Are you paying wasabi prices for coloured horseradish?
Most "wasabi" found in your local retailers is just coloured European Horseradish sometimes mixed with mustard. I have even seen "really hot wasabi" advertised that actually contains chilli powder.
So what, you ask!
Well, basically you are being ripped off!
The real question should be – Why do the suppliers do this?
The answer is really simple. To maximise their profits by duping the consumers.
In Japan, the original home of Wasabi – the manufacturer is allowed to call their mix of whatever "Wasabi" so long as it contains at least 5% of
Wasabia japonica. The part that is normally used is the leaf which does not contain much potency or flavour.
The rest of the world has now followed this practice, except in most countries outside Japan there doesn't even need to be any Wasabi in the product at all.
What are you eating now?
If the label does not say 100% Pure
Wasabia japonica then you can be sure that you are eating the following ingredients (even if they are not on the label).
- European Horseradish -
Armoracia rusticana syn. Cochlearia armoracia. Sometimes grown in Japan (mostly China), but processed in Japan, thereby allowing the
manufacturer to use the phrase "Japanese Horseradish". Sneeky, eh!
- FDA Colours – Yellow #5 & Blue #1
- Mustard powder
- Tumeric powder
- Chilli powder (sometimes).
Why does it matter?
1 - European horseradish does not have all the chemical ingredients in it that wasabi have that have been shown to be beneficial to the human body. For example 100% Pure
wasabi has been found to kill cancer cells, reduce thrombosis, and even kill the bacteria (Helicobacter pylori) that has been found to cause peptic ulcers.
So why eat something that doesn't improve your health?
2 - FDA Yellow #5 - Tartrazine is a coal-tar derivative that is used to colour foods, cosmetics, and other products. It is literally
industrial waste. Tartrazine is also reputed to be a catalyst in hyperactivity/ADD, other behavioral problems, asthma, migranes, thyroid cancer, and lupus ! It is
alleged to cause allergies, thyroid tumors, lymphocytic lymphomas, chromosomal damage, and is banned in Norway. Yellow 5 has been shown to cause cancer not
only when ingested, but also when applied to the skin. Some artificial coal tar colors contain heavy metal impurities, including arsenic and lead, which are carcinogenic.
So why would you want to eat anything containing this ingredient?
3 - FDA Blue #1 – Another coal-tar derivative that is used to color foods, cosmetics, and other products. More
industrial waste. Same problems as Yellow #5 with the added complication of causing chromosomal damage. It is banned in France and Finland.
So why would you eat something that shortens your life?
4 - Other ingredients, such as Tumeric, Mustard and chilli powders. We have no idea what preservatives or other chemicals have been added to these fillers.
So why take a chance on your health?
100% Pure Wasabia japonica Powder contains:-
No additives!
No colouring!
No flavouring!
No fillers!
Why wouldn't you want the best?
If the package you bought your wasabi in does not say
100% Pure Wasabia japonica powder, then you can be sure that it will do you more harm than good.
Surely, when you buy a food you don't expect it to do you more harm than good - but then again that seems to be the norm these days.
Make sure that when you buy your next package of Wasabi, that it is the real thing by ensuring that it says
100% Pure Wasabia japonica,. You will be doing your body a favour.
