Beagle,
I couldn't agree more! On a Northwest DC-10-40 from Kansai to Kuala Lumpur I got some coffee creamer and looked carefully at the list of ingredients. Amongst several rather complex chemicals I saw one I recognised instantly - silicon dioxide.
Silicon dioxide is sand, or quartz, to give it another name. I was expected to add sand to my coffee and drink it!
It was only tiredness that prevented me from summoning a flight attendant and asking her just why Northwest Airlines expected me to drink sand. Bring back real milk, and real spoons.