Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling — An Abuse of Trust by the Food Industry?

[Hopeful]

From the NEJM: http://healthpolicyandreform.nejm.org/?p=14791&query=TOC

Hopeful

[TanyaRD]

Thanks for this article, Hopeful. I am afraid this is the way labeling is headed. For so long I have been able to tell my clients that they can trust the "back of the box" or the Nutrition Facts label. Now I don't believe that is entirely true either. I've always considered/taught that the front of the box was all about marketing and this new system is just another play on marketing. The Nutrition Facts label remains our best tool but the food industry continually finds/creates loopholes to deceive consumers. It is becoming increasingly difficult to education the general public, especially those with little baseline nutrition knowledge or interest, because one truly needs to examine beyond labeling these days. Bottom line...limit processed foods.

[sdstarfish]

One of my biggest pet peeves in this department is the General Mills 'We've got whole grains' campaign. Sure, they may have a few whole grains in the box, but they also have sugar and preservatives....

I also get fired up about the 'high fructose corn syrup' campaign, in which the commercials depict the health-conscious people who are avoiding it as big dummies, while the corn-syrup people sound like health experts. Grrr.

Lisa
www.pinkkitchen.info (http://www.pinkkitchen.info)

[TanyaRD]

I agree, Lisa! The high fructose corn syrup commercial that claimed they had the support of Registered Dietitians drove me crazy!! They didn't have my support. Isn't it interesting that when livestock meant to eat grass are fed corn they grow much more rapidly and when HFCS was added to all of our foods we began to grow rapidly. Not sure there is any relationship but makes me wonder... (one possible factor among many)

[sdstarfish]

You know what, Tanya...I'd never made that connection as far as human growth...but it makes total sense!


Lisa
http://www.pinkkitchen.info