WOW Ulam Caldereta

Picture 1

Manufacturer: The Pacific Meat Co., Inc.

Ortigas, Pasig City

Net Weight on Label: 155g

Actual Weight: 152g

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With Best Before Seal: Yes

With Nutritional Label: Yes

With Date Manufactured: None

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Bought at: Ministop

Ibarra-Blumentrit Branch

Price: P21.00

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Picture 2: Actual Net Weight

INGREDIENTS:

Luncheon Meat

Sausages

Water

Potatoes

Green Peas

Spices

Vegetable oil

Liver Spread

Sugar

Tomato Paste

Peanut Butter

Starches-not clearly specified but it is 

used as thickener for the sauce.

Picture 3: Meat and vegetable contents

Iodized Salt

MSG(Monosodium Glutamate)- a

flavor enhancer.  It's not good to consume canned or processed food regularly because of this ingredient.

**The label says that the product has 580mg of sodium. That's too much for an average person to consume***

**Check my references below about 

MSG**

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REVIEW

The aroma upon opening the can would tell you that the contents has liver spread even without reading the label. The taste of the liver spread dominates the overall flavor but I like this brand better because of the vegetable bits like potatoes and green peas.  Strong and spicy at first taste but it has quite sweet and nutty flavor at the end. I guess the strong spiciness of the overall flavor also comes from the luncheon meat, sausages and liver spread.  One thing that's peculiar about the vegetable bits that's included in the can is the tenderness. The potato bits and green peas easily melts in your mouth just by pressing it lightly against your hard palate.

According to the Nutritional Information, it says  that it has 6g of Fat and 3g Protein. So, eating the contents of the can means you're consuming more fat than protein. Another factor why protein content is so less, it's because they substituted real meat with processed meat. When  meat undergoes further preparation and cooking, the less nutrient it retains.  I also noticed that there's a quite numb and funny feeling in my mouth and teeth after eating just  two teaspoon of this sample. This always happen to me whenever I eat or taste some processed meat. I'm pretty sure it's not the texture but it has something to do with the ingredients like the MSG or other additives.

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REFERENCES:

http://www.msgtruth.org/whatisit.htm
http://www.gicare.com/Diets/reduced-sodium-diet.aspx
http://www.advancedhealthplan.com/msgstudy.html
http://www.fda.gov/food/foodingredientspackaging/ucm094211.htm#types

Ligo Sardines in Gata (Coconut Milk)

Picture 1

Packed for: A. TUNG CHINGCO 

MANUFACTURING CORPORATION

Caloocan, Manila

Under License by: Liberty Gold 

Fruit Co., Inc. CA94083.USA

Net Weight on label: 155g

Actual Net Weight:156g

Gross Weight:196g

Made in the Philippines

NOTE: **A fine print at the bottom 

of the can says: Not for export**

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Picture 2: Actual Weight

With Best Before Seal: Yes

With Nutritional Label: Yes

With Customer Service 

Number: None

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Bought at: Welcome 

Supermart, Quezon City

Price: P25.25

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INGREDIENTS

Sardines
Coconut Milk

Iodized salt

Picture 3: Actual content

Modified starch-this is a food additive. 
There are at least 13-15 types of 
modified starch available. It is commonly 
used as stabilizer, thickener or binder 
according to www.fao.org. Perhaps, it
has something to do with the coconut
milk inside the can.
Soya oil-this is also present in some canned fish products

Ginger

Chili

Spices-not specified

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REVIEW

Ligo brand brings canned sardines to a whole new level. Canned sardines with coconut milk is a unique concept compared to majority of canned sardines in tomato sauce sold on every grocery stores. The content inside the can is very impressive. It is packed with four and a half pieces of sardines and it exceeded the advertised weight from 155g to 156g(see Picture 2). Though the coconut milk is not as rich tasting as it should be according to my taste. The spiciness is just average.

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Reference

http://www.libertygold.com/libertygold/list_LIGO_CannedFish.html
http://www.fao.org/docrep/W6355E/w6355e0o.htm

http://www.fda.gov/food/foodingredientspackaging/ucm094211.htmhttp://webapp.ciat.cgiar.org/asia_cassava/pdf/proceedings_workshop_00/553.pdf

Ulam King Meaty Caldereta Flavor

Picture 1

Manufactured by: JMT Corporate

for The Purefoods-Hormel Company Inc.

(A Company of San Miguel Corporation)

Net Weight on label: 155g

Actual Net Weight: 146g

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With Best Before Seal: Yes

With Nutritional Labels: None

With Customer Care Hotline: Yes

With Website: Yes

Picture 2: Actual Net Weight

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Bought at: Ministop,

Blumentrit, España, Sampaloc,

Manila

Price: P18:00

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INGREDIENTS

Sausages (processed beef,

pork or chicken

Beef Broth

Picture3: I separated the sausages from the sauce.

Spices

Sugar

Tomato paste

Starch-to thicken the sauce

Natural Flavors-not specified

Artificial Food Color-not specified

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REVIEW

You're in for a big surprise if you don't read the labels. At first glance, you would think that this can would contain chunks of real beef. The ingredients on the label says it contains pieces of sausages and that's all there is. Another interesting point about this product, is, they open opportunity for comments and complaints from customers by having a customer care hotline. Picture 3 on the right side reveals two types of sausages used. The bigger chunk of sausages on the picture is spicier than the smaller chunks. Perhaps, that the spicier chunk of sausage is the beef and the smaller pieces and quite pale in color is the chicken or pork. A mild sweet taste from the sauce and the spiciness of the sausages is a perfect match. I wonder if this product contains food additives. Since sausages are processed meat, I'm pretty sure that it has an amount of food additives. Some ingredients isn't clearly specified like: Natural Flavors and Artificial Food Colors.

Philips Meat Loaf

Picture 1

Manufacturer/Distributor? TRIDEM
Makati City, Metro Manila


Net Weight on label: 150g
Actual Net Weight:142g
Gross Weight:182g
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With Best Before Date: Yes
NOTE: **The label of the can says that 
the: "Best Before Date is Embossed
on can ID" but as I checked the 
bottom of the can, the best before 
date is PRINTED on a blurry dot-matrix-type
ink NOT EMBOSSED*** (see picture 3)

Picture 2: Actual Weight

With Expiration Date: None
With Date Manufactured: None

With Nutritional Labels: None
--------------------------
Bought at: Welcome Supermart,
Quezon City
Price: P16.00
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INGREDIENTS
Beef
Pork Trimmings-parts from
pig, also used in sausage.
Iodized Salt

Picture 3

Spices-not clearly specified
Cereal-a binder to
create a doughy effect on 
the meat loaf
Sugar
Sodium Erythrobate-a sodium salt 
of erythorbic acid. Reduces Nitric Oxide 
for faster curing of the meat. Improves flavor
and reduces carcinogens 
Sodium Nitrite-meat preserver and prevents
growth of bacteria.
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REVIEW
The color of the meat loaf is quite pink. 
It's not oily and it has a milder taste compared to other meat loaf in the supermarket. A price of P16.00 per can is quite a deal if your after something that's not as strong tasting and affordable.
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REFERENCES
http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definitions/pork?cx=partner-pub-0939450753529744%3Av0qd01-tdlq&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=pork&sa=Search#906

http://www.fda.gov/food/foodingredientspackaging/ucm094211.htm#types

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_erythorbate

http://www.answers.com/topic/pork

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meatloaf

Argentina Brand Longganisa Style Meat Loaf

Manufacturer: The Pacific Meat Co. Inc. 
(Century Pacific Group)

Picture 1

Other brands manufactured: 555, 
Lucky 7, Shanghai, Fresca, 
Blue Bay, Argentina, Wow Ulam, 
Angel, Century Tuna,Birch Tree,
Home Pride and Kaffe de Oro

Net Weight on label: 170g 
Actual Net Weight: 169g

Gross Weight: 200g

Made in the Philippines

Picture 2: Actual Weight

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With Best Before Date: Yes

With Expiration Date: None

With Date Manufactured:None

With Nutritional Labels:None

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Bought at: Welcome Supermart, 
Quezon City.

Price: P18.50

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INGREDIENTS

Pork

Beef

Fat

Picture 3

Cornstarch

Sugar

Spices

Soy Protein-flavor enhancer

Iodized Salt

Vinegar

MSG(Monosodium Glutamate) 
-another flavor enhancer

Phosphate-prevents rancidity of fats, 
retains moisture from the meat**

Sodium Ascorbate-it is a Vitamin C, anti-oxidant in sodium form. **

Sodium Nitrite-same function as Sodium Ascorbate. It preserves the meat. Prevents the growth of Bacteria, Yeast and Molds and it retains the color of the meat.***

Food Grade Color FD&C Red#3-common food coloring added to candies and other sweets is also used in Argentina Meat Loaf. It enhances the color of the meat.***

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REVIEW

I fried a few slices to check it out. You won't notice the Longganisa flavor on the first few bites. The Longganisa taste comes after the strong meat loaf taste and quite weak at that. Too spicy for my taste. I was expecting something that's a bit sweeter and garlicky minus the strong meat loaf taste.

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REFERENCES

**http://malabarsuperspice.com/ref_sodiumeryth.htm

***http://www.fda.gov/food/foodingredientspackaging/ucm094211.htm#types

To my readers...

Reading food labels should be a common responsibility. We shouldn't live by the brands. Checking the contents and labels will help you make wise decision in choosing what preserved food is best for you. After all, what you eat will affect you. The aim of this blog is to sample and review some preserved foods from supermarkets here in Manila.