CE61-I Tested 9 Popular Chicken Broth Brands Only 3 Were Actually Real Stock - Consumer Exposed

The hosts peel back the glossy packaging of six everyday chicken broth brands to reveal a hidden chemistry lab. Starting with CVS Gold Emblem, they expose a label that lists salt, sea salt, chicken concentrate, yeast extract and added sugar—delivering 860 mg of sodium and just 1 g of protein per cup. They explain how yeast extract supplies free glutamates identical to MSG, a cheap shortcut that replaces 18‑hour bone simmering.Great Value from Walmart follows, with water as the first ingredient, a chicken flavor concentrate, potato flour and double‑listed sodium. The hosts illustrate why the broth never gels in the fridge—a tell‑tale sign that real collagen never entered the pot.Kitchen Basics looks premium, yet adds soy protein concentrate, wheat, and MSG (listed openly). The hosts point out how these industrial boosters inflate protein numbers while hiding the fact that no bones were used.Colleen’s markets itself as "100 % natural" and "no artificial flavors," but the back panel reveals yeast extract, natural flavors and sugar—ingredients that mask the absence of real stock. The hosts note the ongoing class‑action lawsuit over its "No MSG" claim.Swanson, a household name, carries the same trio of shortcuts and faces a similar lawsuit. Its 860 mg of sodium per cup accounts for more than a third of the daily limit, while protein stays at a meager 1 g.Finally, the hosts contrast the avoid list with three brands that actually simmer bones: Bluebird Provisions, Kettle & Fire, and Bonafide Provisions. Bonafide’s broth gels overnight, proving genuine gelatin, while Kettle & Fire delivers 20 g of protein per cup. The episode equips listeners with three quick shelf tests—refrigerator gel, ingredient count, and red‑flag scan—for spotting real broth versus chemically flavored water.By the end, shoppers know exactly which cartons are simulations and which deliver the collagen‑rich, low‑sodium broth their bodies—and their recipes—deserve.

Categories: Food