Unheard of ingredients in food

I am consistently amazed at the ingredients list on many products. Tortillas is a perfect example. The list is incredibly long. Why? To improve shelf life I think is the answer. The fewer ingredients the better is my motto. And ingredients that look like real food not chemicals too. My opinion is that we consume so many artificial and probably harmful ingredients and that contributes to our ill health. Fresh, clean, and whole grain is my goal. I must admit I don’t always stick to it but I try.

The FDA and Dept of Agriculture allow know toxins to be present in our foods, cleaning and grooming products. They base this amount on what they consider an acceptable level. Every modern country sets their acceptable level at different levels. Our American chemical and agricultural lobbies are powerful and influence congress and other governing goverment agencies. We allow preservatives, metals. pesticides and other substances banned in many european countries. Also when they do eliminate one offending element they often replace it with an equally bad one which isn't as well known.
Fortunetly I was personally tested with the 5 Day Extended Patch Test to identify my allergens ( I have severe Allergic Contact Dermatitis, ACD). I know how to read product labels, yet with fresh foods it's a gamble even if it states it's organic. Over time exposure to offending elements can create allergies. I had no allergic reactions until the age of 50.

I see your points the Shellac was weird but Lead is a known poison and if they are just saying it "may" be found doesn't that imply that they are not totally in control of their manufacturing environment like they haven't checked all the paint in the buildings where their Gummy Bears are manufactured so there may be lead in it so if ... happens lead could get into some of the ingredients "just to let you know" I am making light of it but this is a product put out by a major grocery chain and they are talking not about a pesticide to keep bugs from destroying the food we eat but something that is never supposed to be around any type of food at least when it comes to lead. I guess the "other ingredients" are the lawyers' caveat so if something happens they can say well we wrote on the package ".... " so they should have been forewarned. Do you my question about lead - I see yours and agree about the others I guess I just have never seen any food with that ingredient or writing before.

A few months ago I eliminated processed foods from my diet. It is very diffucult! And I eat organic as much as possible. Hoping it is good for brain health.

Absolutely disgusting and, in my opinion, criminal. The food in the U.S.should be much more pure and healthier than it is. I certainly will not eat those gummie bears.

So true, and sad, frustrating, and just plain wrong.

I replied to Seapen; thought it was you.

Any idea as to why Lead?

There are natural levels of lead, arsenic and other, well...nasty things. That is just natural. I think rice contains natural levels of arsenic.

That really isn't an issue...unless they are at unusual levels.

The law may just force companies to disclose that? Not sure.

from the US FDA:

Environmental Contaminants in Food
https://www.fda.gov/food/chemical-contaminants-pesticides/environmental-contaminants-food
Environmental contaminants can be present in foods because they are in the soil, water, or air where foods are grown, raised, or processed. Results of the FDA’s testing data can be found on the individual contaminant pages, as well as on the Total Diet Study and Combination Metals Testing pages.

Environmental contaminants include:

Closer to Zero: Reducing Exposure to Toxic Elements from Foods for Babies and Young Children
In Closer to Zero, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identifies actions the agency will take to reduce exposure to arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury from foods eaten by babies and young children—to as low as possible.

Arsenic, Lead, Mercury, and Cadmium, sometimes referred to as heavy metals or toxic elements, may occur naturally in the environment and are often at higher levels from past industrial uses and pollution.
These contaminants have been prioritized due to their potential to cause harm during times of active brain development—in the womb through early childhood. Learn more at: Closer to Zero and Advice About Eating Fish.

About that "shellac." I think you are talking about Cochineal:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochineal#:~:text=It%20takes%20about%2070%2C000%20insects,coloring%20made%20from%20the%20cochineal.
It is a natural dye made from an insect.

"Being natural is not a guarantee of safety, but studies show that cochineal is neither carcinogenic nor toxic. Cochineal does, however, have a slight potential to trigger an allergic reaction."