What’s behind the new food labels?Nutrition and weight loss experts will tell you that reading labels on the foods you purchase can help you make healthier eating choices. But which labels are you supposed to pay attention to? You may have noticed new labels and rating systems popping up on some of your favorite foods. Perhaps your local grocery store has also added nutrition labels to their shelves. While more information sounds like a good thing, some consumer groups worry these new labels may do more harm than good. One problem with nutritional labels added by grocery stores and food manufacturers is that they aren't standardized. One company's criteria for "heart healthy" may be different from another company's standard for "gold star." With no government regulation of these rating systems, it's difficult to know what standards are being used. Is a food marked as "healthy" because it's low in calories or low in saturated fat? How do two foods labeled by your grocery store as "best" or "better" compare to each other? Experts suggest reading the Nutrition Facts label, which is regulated by the FDA, to make your purchasing and eating decisions. These labels list the amounts of certain nutrients and offer percentages based on the FDA's recommended daily amounts for these nutrients. You can compare nutritional information of different foods because the same standards are applied to every product that carries this label, and the accuracy of the information posted is regulated by the FDA. |
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