Health Food or Health Deception | Foodfacts.com

Foodfacts.com advises consumers to always be sure to check out food-industry health claims.

Beware of packaging claims: food-industry health claims can be misleading, say researchers at the University of California, Davis. Case in point: recently, a major yogurt food product company was involved in some controversy regarding claims made on two of their popular labels. The company denies any wrongdoing, but agreed to make several changes to their packaging.

Meanwhile, your supermarket’s shelves are packed with overhyped health claims. And while many of these claims may be factual, they may also be giving you the wrong impression about just how healthful a product really is. That’s because marketers highlight what they want you to notice. “Even if a food is fat free, it could be loaded with sugar,” says study author Clare Hasler, Ph.D. “Or a product that’s ‘made with whole grains’ may also contain a high amount of refined flour.”

Your best strategy: nutrition-savvy people should learn the science behind the sales pitch.

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