Make more Informed choices for your health; avoid the marketing traps designed to mislead

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Every time we step into a grocery store, we are greeted by a dizzying array of choices. The colorful packaging, the eye-catching claims: “sugar-free,” “natural,” “organic,” “low-calorie”—these promises seem to offer us a healthier, more sustainable option. How often do we stop and ask: what do these labels really mean?

Many of these labels are designed to make products appear better for us than they truly are. Words like “light” or “sugar-free” may sound healthy, but they often come with trade-offs—sometimes in the form of artificial ingredients, or an increase in fat, or sodium to compensate for taste. When it comes to the label “natural” It is not as regulated as you might think.

In her article “13 Misleading Food Label Claims and How Not to Be Tricked,” Grace Hussein explains that food labeling serves two main purposes: to comply with legal standards and to entice consumers to buy products. The latter, driven by the massive $14 billion that food, beverage, and restaurant companies invest annually in marketing, is where misleading labels come into play. Companies often use strategic trigger words related to flavours, ingredients, and sourcing to manipulate consumer perception, ultimately prioritizing sales over transparency. This tactic encourages customers to make purchases based on incomplete or exaggerated information.

“In the United States, the term ‘natural’ on food labels does not necessarily mean much. The FDA has no strict definition for it. All it really implies is that the product does not contain artificial colours, or synthetic ingredients, but it could still be highly processed and full of sugars or preservatives.”

So, what about “organic?” While this label does have more stringent regulations under the USDA, it’s important to note that organic doesn’t always mean healthier. Organic cookies, or chips are still cookies and chips. They may be free of synthetic pesticides, but they can still pack a punch in terms of sugar, calories, and fat.

Then there is “low-calorie.” Products that boast of being low in calories often achieve that by cutting out fat or sugar—but what they add back can be equally concerning. Sugar substitutes, or extra sodium are common replacements, which can lead to health issues of their own.

Take “sugar-free” claims. Many products labeled this way may substitute sugar with artificial sweeteners like aspartame, or sucralose, which some research has linked to long-term health risks.

I know you are going to love this one. We all want to make sure we are getting our fruits and vegetables, so when we read on a label that a product is fruit-flavored, it suggests that the product is flavored with real fruit. This, however, is not necessarily the case. Instead, these foods are typically flavored with chemicals that impart a fruity taste. I think that there is something that I should let you know here; FDA lacks any requirements for how much fruit must be present in a product with the label “Made with real fruit,” meaning that this label does not necessarily indicate that a product contains any actual fruits. You see how tricky they are, and all of this to sell a product.

So, what is a savvy shopper to do? The key is reading beyond the buzzwords. One thing that consumers can do to avoid being tricked is to largely ignore the claims being made in bright letters and large fonts on the packaging. These claims are often based on technicalities and legal standards that can be impractical and misleading. Pay attention to the full ingredient list and nutrition facts. A label like “natural” or “light” might catch your eye, but the ingredients can tell the real story about what you are eating.

The next time you’re at the store, take a moment to decode those labels. Choosing healthy foods at the grocery store can be challenging, especially when you are up against a multi-billion dollar marketing industry with expertise in selling products and misleading shoppers. One of the best ways to ensure that you are eating a healthy diet is to avoid processed foods altogether, and instead seek out primarily whole foods and plant-based foods such as products made with 100% whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

By understanding what’s behind the claims, you can make more informed choices for your health—and avoid the marketing traps designed to mislead.

REFERENCES:

https://www.livestrong.com/article/13731450-nutrition-claims-misleading-food-labels/