It can be a frightening experience going shopping with Corinne Snowman. 

Talking to Corinne Snowman is frightening. Going grocery shopping with her is even worse. After speaking with Corinne it was with much trepidation that I set off with her to “check out” my 10 favourite products.

Armed with Corinne’s code breaker, listing more than 100 additives and preservatives and the effects they can have, we stroll the aisles. By the way, the effects linked by research to these “extras” can include cancer, asthma and hyperactivity.

Starting in the biscuit aisle was a big mistake. You do not want to know the list of colourings and preservatives in some of your favourite indulgences. Take colour E102 for instance (tartrazine also called No. 5 Cl Acid Yellow).  Quoting research by author Peter M. Taubert, who wrote Your Health and Food Additives, Corinne points out that more than 80 per cent of hyperactive children are allergic to No. 5. She says E110, or Sunset Yellow FCF, is even worse and can cause cancer, according to Taubert.

We found one ingredient in a number of products which Corinne assures me is just cleverly disguised MSG.

She’ll tell you other things you definitely won’t want to hear about your favourite foods, shampoos, washing powders and the list goes on.

Topping her list of “scary” items to be avoided, apart from the biscuits, are lollies and ice creams all containing a potent combination of chemicals, colourings and preservatives.

Fear of a lawsuit prevents me from naming some of the foods Corinne definitely wouldn’t buy but she’s happy to let you know about them and alternatives she recommends.

“I’m not the most popular person at times,” she laughs.

“But I’m just a mum who’s done a lot of research and is keen for her children to grow up in as healthy a way as possible.”

A good rule of thumb is that the more artificial the colour and the more numbers on the back of the packet, the less likely it will be good for you.

Corinne points out that you don’t have to be a biochemist to work out what you’re eating, like the 282s and the 160Bs, but it helps. Other common additives and preservatives to look out for are 202, 220, 200, 320, 211, 223 and 635.

So this “mum on a mission” has made copies of the code breaker and sees her role as that of waving a red flag. She’s spent the past five years reading, researching and listening to experts on personal care and food products.

“I noticed that people were not as well as they should be and felt I owed it to my children to bring them up in a healthier way,” she says. “My mother had brought us up with very few processed foods which we weren’t too thrilled about at the time but now I realise it was how we should be eating.”

Several years ago Corinne says she found her son Benn was getting quite angry and she couldn’t understand the reason for his behaviour.

“He’s pretty finicky about what he’ll eat and one thing he loves is peanut paste on bread. When we ran out and didn’t have any at home for a while his angry behaviour stopped.”

She now buys fresh peanut paste and many other products from the Cairns-based co-operative Community Foods.

Corinne also advocates getting to know the stallholders at Rusty’s Market to buy organic and fresh fruit and vegetables.

She readily admits that eating fresh food is far more expensive than processed.

“You have to ask the question: ‘Am I worth spending an extra $50 a week on?’. Something within you needs to change, your hierarchy of values has to shift.”

She also acknowledges that busy mums sometimes don’t have the luxury of the time it takes to shop this way.

I find myself nodding furiously in agreement when Corinne speaks about the ubiquitous sausage sizzle. There’s something very “wrong” we both agree in raising money selling white bread, oily sausages and tomato sauce from a plastic bottle, particularly for health charities.

Corinne also believes in positive affirmations and the power of the mind, but that’s another story.

She holds regular informal get-togethers at her house where she provides education opportunities about health issues with informative DVDs, CDs, health speakers, websites and publications. Corinne also organises speakers for seminars with former New Zealand swimming coach Rob McIntyre coming to Cairns late in July to talk about keeping fit.

For a free code breaker, toxic bathroom guide or more information, ph: 0407 996 726.

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