White Hall Willing Workers Extension Homemakers Club met Sept. 24 at the exhibit building at the Southeast Arkansas District Fair and Livestock Show, serving as hosts for the county fair exhibits buildings as well.
Willing Workers President Sarah Payton called the meeting to order. The Homemakers Creed was led by Vice President Dee Kindrick. Roll was called by Secretary Tonia Dalby. Minutes of the August meeting were read, corrected and approved. The treasurer’s report was given by Marnette Reed, according to a news release.
The program was provided by Kindrick on “Investigating Food Additives.” Each member was given a Food Additive worksheet and chose from a variety of purchased food items to report natural ingredients and additives to the members.
There are direct food additives that are added for a specific food purpose and indirect that become part of the food in trace amounts due to packaging, storage or handling. The Delaney Clause prohibits the approval of an additive “if it is found to induce cancer when ingested by people or animals,” according to the presentation.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
All ingredients must be listed on the product label in the ingredients statement in order by weight, from the greatest to the least. The most unhealthy ingredients in food are trans fat, artificial sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors and flavors, and excessive amounts of sodium nitrite and nitrate (salt).
The meeting was closed by Kindrick with members reciting the Homemakers Prayer.
If you are interested in joining a Jefferson County Extension Homemakers Club and participate in many projects and programs (including set up of the county fair exhibits, sewing dolls for the Arkansas Children’s Hospital and going with fellow members on educational trips around the state), reach out to Mary Ann Kizer at the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service at (870) 534-1033 or visit https://www.uaex.uada.edu/counties/jefferson/.