Your Vote: Should Food Packaging Be More Black and White?
January 3, 2008 by Liberty Kontranowski
Filed under Diets and Dieting, Food and Drink, Health, Junk Food That Isn't, Marketing, Obesity, Prevention, Safety, Weight Loss, Your Body
Reading food labels can be a lot like studying for NASA privileges or deciphering a cryptic code. It takes a lot of work, it takes a lot of effort, and it takes a lot of time…which most of us don’t have.
So when Shape magazine posted a poll online asking whether a food’s packaging should clearly state whether or not it meets healthy guidelines, I got wondering what you all would say.
In your opinion, should a manufacturer be forced to disclose whether a food item is a “healthy” choice on its packaging, or no? If yes, would you still buy an item even if it was designated “Unhealthy”? If you vote “No”, what would be your suggestion for consumers trying to assess a product’s health quotient?
After you discuss, I’ll post the percentages of the Shape readers’ votes and some of their thoughts. Until then, have at it…
Ok, so I think that they should definitely NOT be putting less information on the label. But, for people who find label reading difficult and confusing, it may also help them to have a ‘healthy or not healthy’ sticker IN ADDITION to the standard label.
As someone who is fairly knowledgeable when it comes to food, I turn every package I pick up around to read that label and understand the composition of the food and make the decision if I want to buy it. I would freak and not know what to do if it was simplified or removed.
I think a big problem with forcing such a labeling is “What is healthy?” Should a brand be forced to put an “UNHEALTHY!” sticker on their product simply because it doesn’t reach a specific guideline?
Different people have different ideas of what works well with their own dietary needs – I agree that finding some way to make these labels more clear would be helpful, but trying to stick a black-or-white “Good” or “Bad” on food products won’t work and in the end would probably actually make people even more confused than they are now.
I regularly read the food labels to make a decision on whether I want to consume a product or not. I occation I chose a product regardless of what is in it – like most everyone else. I think it would be terrible to reduce the information on a food label in the hopes to cater to the lowest common denominator, but an additional bit of information to make it easier for some people to make a decision certainly couldn’t hurt.
I think the companies who would fight this would be surprised that, most likely, their sales wouldn’t drop much – I think most people know that eating a bag of chips isn’t good for you, but we do it occasionally anyway because we like them.
I agree that reading food labels can be a confusing experience. As a dietitian I’ve spent dozens of hours helping clients decipher label information and how it applies to them.
It would be difficult to find an acceptable system to allow manufacturers to determine whether a food is ‘healthy’. Do you rate foods by calories, fat, saturated fat; does each food group have its own rules? Something like light margarine is a healthier choice than regular margarine; but is still full of fat and calories. It’s all in how you use it.
I agree with Steve that it’s impossible to be black & white when labeling the health benefits of a food. Even with confusing labels, most people do know in general what isn’t good for them. The problem is whether or not they decide to follow that knowledge!
- Renee