"There's just this nasty perception out there" of jerky as loaded with salt, preservatives and all sorts of artificial ingredients, Mr. Ennis says.

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Tastes are changing too: Twinkie the Kid might have been made from petroleum byproducts and artificial ingredients, but he died a natural death.

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In July, the Center for Science in the Public Interest sued General Mills for allegedly putting artificial ingredients in Nature Valley products marketed as natural.

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The company's range of goods includes fruit spreads, fruit juices, pasta and pasta sauces, nut butters, dressings and oils, which the company boasts are free from artificial ingredients and preservatives.

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Working in my garage, I custom built a mosquito test chamber, created artificial perspiration with varied concentrations of ingredients, and after innumerable hours of testing and analyzing data, was able to discover the role of ammonia in the attraction of mosquitoes to humans.

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Firms selling everything from energy drinks to breakfast foods to artificial sweeteners (Splenda now comes with added fibre) are rushing to add miracle ingredients to their wares in the hope that the supposed benefits will entice customers.

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