What are Masa chips and why are they different from regular tortilla chips?

Masa chips are made from nixtamalized corn — a traditional process where dried corn is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution (typically lime water). This ancient technique increases the bioavailability of nutrients like niacin, improves protein quality, and creates a richer, more complex flavor than modern corn chips. Most commercial tortilla chips skip nixtamalization entirely and use degerminated corn flour, industrial seed oils, and additives. Real masa chips have just a handful of ingredients and a noticeably better taste and texture.

What seed oils should I avoid in packaged food?

The main ones to avoid are canola, soybean, sunflower, safflower, corn, cottonseed, and grapeseed oil. These are highly processed using chemical solvents like hexane, and they’re extremely high in omega-6 fatty acids. When consumed in excess — which is easy given how ubiquitous they are in packaged food — they contribute to an imbalanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratio linked to chronic inflammation. Better alternatives are avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, butter, and ghee.

What does "clean label" mean for food products?

Clean label generally means a short, recognizable ingredient list with no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or synthetic additives. There’s no regulated definition, so it’s a marketing term — which is why we do our own vetting rather than relying on the label. We look for products where every ingredient is something you could find in a kitchen, with no hidden fillers or processing aids. The shorter the ingredient list, the better.

Is organic food worth the extra cost?

It depends on the product. Organic matters most for items with the highest pesticide residue loads — the EWG’s Dirty Dozen list (strawberries, spinach, peppers, grapes, etc.) is a good guide. For pantry staples like grains, oats, and legumes, organic also reduces exposure to glyphosate, which is commonly used as a pre-harvest desiccant on conventional crops. For thick-skinned produce like avocados and pineapples, the benefit is lower. Prioritize organic for what you eat most frequently and in the largest quantities.

What's wrong with artificial food dyes?

Artificial food dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1 are petroleum-derived synthetic chemicals used purely for appearance. Several have been linked to hyperactivity in children, and some contain contaminants like benzidine (a known carcinogen) as byproducts of manufacturing. The EU requires warning labels on foods containing certain dyes; the US does not. They serve no nutritional purpose and are easy to avoid — none of the food products we carry contain artificial dyes.

Fresh vegetables, bread, and grains on a wooden kitchen counter with white cabinets and potted herbs by the window.

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Grocery Guides 📖

Your kitchen is where chemical exposure is most constant and most avoidable — nonstick coatings that off-gas at high heat, plastic food storage that leaches into leftovers, cutting boards that harbor bacteria in ways that matter for food safety. We’ve vetted every product in this collection for material safety, durability, and real-world performance so you can upgrade your kitchen without the guesswork.

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Every product in our Kitchen & Food collection is hand-selected by our team of non-toxic living experts. We research ingredients, materials, and certifications—rejecting anything with harmful chemicals, questionable coatings, or greenwashing claims—so you can shop with confidence.

Food & Beverage FAQs

Masa chips are made from nixtamalized corn — a traditional process where dried corn is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution (typically lime water). This ancient technique increases the bioavailability of nutrients like niacin, improves protein quality, and creates a richer, more complex flavor than modern corn chips. Most commercial tortilla chips skip nixtamalization entirely and use degerminated corn flour, industrial seed oils, and additives. Real masa chips have just a handful of ingredients and a noticeably better taste and texture.
The main ones to avoid are canola, soybean, sunflower, safflower, corn, cottonseed, and grapeseed oil. These are highly processed using chemical solvents like hexane, and they’re extremely high in omega-6 fatty acids. When consumed in excess — which is easy given how ubiquitous they are in packaged food — they contribute to an imbalanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratio linked to chronic inflammation. Better alternatives are avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, butter, and ghee.
Clean label generally means a short, recognizable ingredient list with no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or synthetic additives. There’s no regulated definition, so it’s a marketing term — which is why we do our own vetting rather than relying on the label. We look for products where every ingredient is something you could find in a kitchen, with no hidden fillers or processing aids. The shorter the ingredient list, the better.
It depends on the product. Organic matters most for items with the highest pesticide residue loads — the EWG’s Dirty Dozen list (strawberries, spinach, peppers, grapes, etc.) is a good guide. For pantry staples like grains, oats, and legumes, organic also reduces exposure to glyphosate, which is commonly used as a pre-harvest desiccant on conventional crops. For thick-skinned produce like avocados and pineapples, the benefit is lower. Prioritize organic for what you eat most frequently and in the largest quantities.
Artificial food dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1 are petroleum-derived synthetic chemicals used purely for appearance. Several have been linked to hyperactivity in children, and some contain contaminants like benzidine (a known carcinogen) as byproducts of manufacturing. The EU requires warning labels on foods containing certain dyes; the US does not. They serve no nutritional purpose and are easy to avoid — none of the food products we carry contain artificial dyes.

An Honest Review of Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula