Having a Tough Time Understanding Nutrition Labels?

 Image courtesy of rakratchada torsap/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of rakratchada torsap/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Determining fat content, serving size, pronouncing ingredients–nutrition labels are often so confusing. But a recent bill introduced by three democrats on Sept. 19th may offer some help for those who just don’t understand labels. This legislation, introduced to the Senate, would require processed foods and drinks to produce certain changes.

Regulators would create a key for extra visuals and allow you to more easily determine the nutritional content of a food product. For example, cues and symbols would designate just how healthy a product really is, all based on its caloric content, amount of fat and other criteria. This should aid in the deception some products use to appear healthy, but really are not.

For example, if a good is labeled with grains, it would need to specify the ratio to total grains. Any added sugar would also have to be disclosed right on the label. This makes any product claiming to be healthy really have to prove it actually is healthy. It’s a win for consumers, especially as we’ve been duped by many so called “organic” and “low fat” food products before now.

In addition, labels would get a redesign, hopefully making the ingredients easier to see*:

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This is all part of the Proposed Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2013. “The Food Labeling Modernization Act is a comprehensive approach to updating labels so that consumers have the clear, consistent information they need when making important decisions about the food they buy and give to their families,” says Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.)**

*Source:

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-09-26/a-bill-making-food-nutrition-labels-easier-to-decipher#r=rss

**https://pallone.house.gov/press-release/pallone-introduces-new-bill-modernize-food-labeling