(U.S. News & World Report) Last week, the Food and Drug Administration warned 17 food companies that the marketing claims on some of their products weren't in line with government rules. If you buy ice cream marketed as having "zero grams trans fat," for example, but it still contains a significant amount of saturated and total fat, that information is supposed to be prominent. The letters are part of the FDA's move to address the confusion surrounding front-of-package claims, an effort that will include a standardization of how this information is presented.
Until it's all sorted out, there are plenty of food labels that are difficult to decipher, say dietitians and nutrition experts. Here are some claims that warrant a closer look before you buy:
1. Foods claiming to "support your immune system." A food can carry this claim if it contains certain levels of nutrients—including vitamins C and A—that, when deficient in the diet, can negatively affect the immune system. But that doesn't mean that adding those nutrients to an already adequate diet will supercharge your immunity or protect you from the flu…
2. Sugary foods that advertise their virtues. Cocoa Krispies isn't alone; plenty of sugary cereals and other foods tout the presence of other nutrients. It's not that sugar is evil, but it is caloric, and you shouldn't be fooled by the "health halo" that hovers over some foods pointing out the presence of other nutrients…
3. Treats that are "made with real fruit." There may be plenty of good reasons to eat snacks making this claim, but the fruit content is rarely one of them…
4. Food "made with whole grains." In its recent report "Food Labeling Chaos," the Center for Science in the Public Interest called on the FDA to require products making this claim to "disclose what percentage of total grains are whole."…
5. Products claiming they're "natural." The CSPI's recent food labeling report wants the FDA to crack down on this claim and to prohibit the term's use in foods made with high-fructose corn syrup or artificial ingredients. Here's an easy rule of thumb: Ignore the claim entirely. "Natural" is virtually meaningless; not everything made in a lab is harmful, not everything that pops up in the natural world is beneficial (E. coli is perfectly natural, after all), and distinguishing between the two is often an exercise in splitting hairs rather than a way of determining what you really want to know: How healthful is this food?
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