The Selenium Story—And What It Means for Food Brands

When we first tested the selenium content in Brazil nuts for one of our product recipes, we didn’t expect to uncover a much bigger problem.

We were developing a bar that was supposed to deliver 100% of the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of selenium—based on average values reported in food composition databases and used on commercial packaging.

What we found? Undetectable selenium.

Not low. Not borderline. Undetectable.

The lab double-checked. We tested again, and then tested five different supermarket packets of Brazil nuts.

Every sample fell short of the claims made on-pack—or didn’t list selenium at all.

This isn’t just a nutrition issue. It’s a trust issue. And for food brands, it’s a wake-up call.

The Problem Most Brands Don’t Want to Admit

Most brands don’t test the actual nutrient content of their products. They rely on generic databases, supplier spec sheets, or legacy values.

That might be industry standard—but it doesn’t make it good enough.

Because if the food you’re selling isn’t delivering what your label claims, you’re not just under-delivering—you’re misleading. Whether it’s intentional or not, it erodes consumer trust. And in a market saturated with health claims and wellness branding, trust is everything.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

• Consumers are more informed. They’re asking questions. They’re checking credentials. They’re losing patience with greenwashed marketing and nutrient claims that don’t hold up.

• Nutrient deficiencies are real. If people are making food choices based on your label, and those labels aren’t accurate, the health impacts are yours to share.

• Selenium is just the start. This issue isn’t limited to one mineral or one ingredient. If you don’t test, you don’t know. And if you don’t know, you can’t stand behind your product.

At Eat for You, we no longer make our own products—but we’ve taken everything we learned from doing so and turned it into a service that helps others do better.

We work with food brands to test their products for nutrients, pesticides, and contaminants, and interpret those results with clarity and integrity. We don’t rely on averages. We don’t believe in masking low-quality ingredients with synthetic additives. And we never settle for “close enough.”

We exist to help brands build trust by telling the truth about what’s in their food—even when it’s inconvenient.

If you're a food brand ready to back your label claims with real data—and build something your customers can believe in—we're here for it.

Reach out to us. Let’s raise the standard for food as it should be.