Understanding Food Advertising & Packaging

Terms on food packaging can be confusing. The US Food and Drug Administration has rules that define the terms that food companies can use. When you desire to eat healthy and improve your wellness you need to be able to read food packages and labels.

Low-Fat

The Idea: Consuming items that are lower in fat can help decrease your calorie intake, meaning you can still enjoy your most beloved treats like yogurt or cheese but with a smaller likelihood of gaining any extra weight.

The Reality: Low-fat doesn’t necessarily mean fewer calories. You may end up consuming more if you choose the low-fat version, as you think of it as the more responsible option. Additionally, since fat-based foods will keep you full for longer, you need to ingest less of it to satisfy yourself.

Calories you think you are saving by taking out fat might just end up getting added back as sugar, which helps to maintain the flavor and texture of whatever is now in the dish after the fat was taken out.

The Conclusion: Before you purchase an item that has been advertised as low-fat, make sure to review the nutritional information and ingredients to confirm what is responsible for its delicious taste.

All-Natural

The Perception: This label implies that these foods are both beneficial to health and eco-friendly.

According to the USDA’s guidelines, a “natural” product cannot contain artificial ingredients and should be minimally processed. Being minimally processed is defined as processing the food in a manner that does not fundamentally alter the product.

The Reality: The products labeled “natural” allow foods to be genetically modified and grown with pesticides.

The word “natural” also does not mean it is healthier than another alternative.

Vitamin-Fortified

The Idea: Eating foods that are reinforced with vitamins give us the nourishment needed without having to take a vitamin supplement.

Many companies market snacks like cookies, candies, chips, and other unhealthy foods as nutritious by adding vitamins to them.

The latest vitamin-driven trend has an impact on how shoppers buy: A survey of over 5,000 grocery buyers indicated that when provided two snack possibilities – one healthier, based on whole foods, and one enriched with vitamins – customers were more likely to pick the second one without examining the ingredients list.

This is an issue because the extra vitamins are not enough to counteract the empty calories, sugar, and unhealthy fats that serve as their delivery method.

The Outcome: Receive your vitamins from the foods that naturally contain them, like fruits and veggies.

GMOs

The Perception: They’re not good for you. You only shop at stores that sell natural products, and at regular supermarkets you always get items labelled as “non-GMO”.

The Struggle Continues: The debate between different factions of farmers, large corporations, and biotechnology companies within the agricultural industry all vying for GMOs to either be embraced or rejected is still ongoing. It is still unclear what the effects of GMOs are on human health and the environment, as there is no definite answer.

There are those who believe that foods that have been altered genetically can stay fresher for longer periods of time, may have higher levels of nutrients such as antioxidants and vitamins, and may even have better flavor.

Studies demonstrate that buyers who are unfamiliar with the GMO controversy are willing to pay more for items that claim to have such attributes.

When consumers first learn about the disagreements over modified ingredients in food products, usually through some type of advertisement or promoting, that’s when they tend to stop considering purchasing them.

The Verdict: We’re all still pretty confused. Try not to focus too much on any large scale assumptions made in either group. Rather than concentrating on a single component listed on a food label, take a broader, more holistic approach and analyze the health advantages of the food.

Organic

People’s views are that organic foods are healthier, more secure, and more eco-friendly.

The USDA sanctions products that utilize natural ingredients and employ traditional farming practices as much as feasible. To grow produce, the soil must have gone three years without any pesticide use; meats must be raised without antibiotics and hormones while replicating their natural habitat; and at least 70% of the ingredients in processed, pre-packaged items need to meet these requirements.

There is a large segment of health-aware individuals with the financial resources to purchase organic foods which are becoming increasingly popular. The USDA revealed a value of $5.5 billion for the industry, which has seen an increase of 72 percent in sales since 2008.

People think that if a product is labeled as organic, it automatically offers a variety of health and ecological benefits that cannot be guaranteed. At the time Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman introduced the initial national regulations for the organic labeling, he made it clear that it was intended for marketing and did not reflect food safety, value assessment, or nutritional quality.

There has been disagreement over the label and whether it disadvantages smaller farmers who use some organic practices but lack the resources of industrial agriculture, if it accommodates new types of farming like hydroponics, and if suggestions that these foods are healthier than conventionally grown food are adequately backed up by proof.

The Conclusion: There is still merit to buying organic products. But you should not rely on the idea that this is necessarily healthier for you, risk-free, and kinder to the environment.

If you are looking to switch to organic produce, check out your local farmer’s markets and community gardens. This will help promote your local economy, small-scale farmers, and reduce emissions from transportation.