Forbes on Misleading Food Labels
Food nutrition labels can be tedious to read when you’re in a hurry at the supermarket, but looking for a few keywords — “whole grain,” “excellent source of fiber” — on food labels will get you through in a pinch, right? Not so, says Forbes writer Allison Van Dusen in a recent article, “Nine Ways Food Labels Mislead.”
Both marketing and medical claims can lead us to make food choices that aren’t really as smart or healthy as we think, Van Dusen says.
For example: Sara Lee recently agreed to clarify that its “Soft & Smooth Made with Whole Grain White Bread” contains 30 percent whole grain. New labeling will state “that two slices of its bread have 10 grams of whole grain, equalling just under a fifth of the USDA’s recommended amount,” according to FoodNavigatorUSA, which reports on food industry news.
The American Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) had charged the bread’s labeling suggested it contained more whole grain, and the organization threatened last year to sue. Current U.S. guidelines do not require products contain 100 percent whole grain to use FDA whole grain health claims on the label.
The Forbes article also points out vulnerabilities elsewhere, including some light and low-fat products and health claims based indirectly on nutrient roles, and offers tips for making healthy choices at the supermarket. Read more at Forbes.com. You can post your own savvy-shopping tips in the article’s comments section.
