At first glance
Convenient “healthy food” labeling systems aren’t all they’re cracked up to be
If you can’t judge a book by its cover, why is it that the so-called health “authorities” think it’s okay to judge a food by its packaging? Little symbols indicating “healthy” packaged foods are all the rage these days. I’ve seen several different versions branded on various products in supermarkets here in Baltimore (and across the U.S.). But the British government may be taking it one step further, requiring all supermarkets to adopt the “traffic light” labeling system already used by several chains.
This system is meant to be a simple tool for consumers to know at a glance which products are good for them. Those items would bear a green light. Foods heading into “danger zones” would bear a yellow light on their labels. And things considered “unhealthy” have a red light stamped on their packaging.
In theory, it sounds like a convenient way for consumers to make good choices — sort of like “Cliff’s Notes” for label-reading. But this sort of labeling system leaves a lot of room for error, and it’s actually the sort of thing Dr. Wright cautions against.
I was more than a little surprised the first time Dr. Wright told me that he opposed the move towards restaurants being required to display the nutritional information on their menus. For someone who has built his career on helping people become as healthy as possible, it seemed odd that he didn’t consider this a step in the right direction. But then he explained to me that, since the requirement applied only to certain restaurants (mostly big-name fast-food chains), what it really boiled down to wasn’t the government’s vested interest in our health, but an attempt by los Federales to force you into making what they consider healthy food choices. The same is true for these new labeling systems being implemented by various food manufacturers here in the U.S. and the traffic light system the U.K. may be forcing supermarkets to adopt shortly.
And, unfortunately, their idea of healthy choices — which are typically heavy on carbs and milk — are more suited to boosting grain and dairy industry profits than they are to boosting your health.
The fact is, there’s just no substitute for reading labels thoroughly. It may not be as convenient, but it’s the only way to be absolutely certain that you’re buying what’s best for your and your family.
Source:
“Deal could make traffic lights mandatory, claims report,” NutraIngredients (www.nutraingredients.com), 3/25/08
