Take for example, oatmeal. Instant oatmeal with added flavors and sugars can use the FDA-approved claim that this is a food product which helps fight heart disease. So we would see that seal of FDA approval and think, "this is a healthy choice." However, take the same amount of instant oatmeal and decrease the added sugar content and the claim cannot be made that it is a hearth-healthy food product. Even though the food product that makes this a healthier choice is the oatmeal. The reality is that the ratio of fat becomes greater than the sugar content when we remove the added sugar, which offsets the amount of fat in the serving, thus making it less healthy — according to FDA's standards of health. What fat, you may be asking? Why, the fat found naturally in oats, of course. So, when we add in sugar, which we know is not a heart-healthy food choice, then the ratios of fat is altered and in this bright little gray area is the marketing ability to approve sugar-laden instant oatmeal as a healthier choice than the no sugar added alternative — err, original. Of course, after Quaker pointed this out to the FDA and food companies, health officials and other secret agencies were contacted to ask “Are we OK with this being the rule,” millions of tax dollars were spent in researching this gray area and now both food products can carry the claim they are good for your heart, sugar sweetened marshmallow delight instant oatmeal is now just as healthy for you as old fashioned oatmeal you were chocking down before school as a child.
Food labels also have no age requirement to ensure you are old enough to know you are about to ingest a toxic substance. After all, that is why cigarettes and alcohol have age requirements on them, isn’t it? The FDA feels it is adequate in doing their job on protecting us by allowing their necessities to be slightly modified to labels instead of removal. In fact, to alter a label or health claim they need to go through litigation procedures to enforce or state anything positive, health wise.
Article comments
1 - Ruvy
Maureen,
It is a commandment in Jewish law that "if a blessing comes into your hand, you must do it immediately".
Having just read this article, and realizing how you highlighted this very topic earlier, I have to congratulate you on a job very well done....
Would only that we had someone like that in Israel!
Shabbat Shalom,
Ruvy
2 - Maureen Jeanson
Thank you Ruvy! I thought I needed to direct my points on the first article since so many people want to horde their Twinkies under their bed for fear of losing freedom to over indulge.
3 - Jordan Richardson
Well done, Maureen. Incidentally, they've banned trans fats up here in Canada too. For some reason there was no uproar over it...
nutrition labels are nothing more than a marketing technique.
Bingo.
4 - Jordan Richardson
Also, a somewhat sideways point:
I happened to catch a cool documentary called "The Disappearing Male." You can watch it online here.
It's from the CBC and it talks about how there's a toxic threat to the male reproductive system and how there have been more cases of deformity, low sperm count, and testicular cancer in males than ever before. It discusses "hormone mimicking" or "endocrine disrupting" chemicals found in shampoo, meat and dairy products, and elsewhere and how they're impacting our genes.
Very interesting stuff. If you've got about 45 minutes to spare, I recommend it.
5 - Silas Kain
As someone who is intimately aware of the cold chain process in our food delivery system, I am appalled at how lacking the United States is in comparison to Europe. Kudos to the author of this piece. We can only hope that more "Americans" will get on the bandwagon and start demanding some accountability from Congress. The agricultural lobbyists have controlled our collective diets for far too long. And that is evidenced by the obesity of so many members of Congress whether physically or by the size of the wad of cash in their wallets.
6 - Cindy
I have no idea what this article is about. Sorry author...you could be anyone. I just saw Silas, whom I adore. Hi there Silas. :-)
7 - Cindy
Gay or straight they're all the same. They are male and I adore them. Too bad I am parked behind the ketchup at the moment. :-)
8 - Silas Kain
Cindy! How are you? And we both share that sentiment â€" males, we adore them.
9 - Cindy
Ha! I am fine. So good to see your happy...um letters. :-)
Indeed, males are so very cool. I love them, I live with them, I adore them. Next to women you guys are like the best thing ever created.
smooch :-)
10 - Christine
Good info Maureen
It’s interesting that man (woman) can go to the moon, cure many diseases, and accomplish other extraordinary feats, but when man alters food from its natural state, he (she) usually ruins it.
More ironic (or pathetic) is the fact that we make food that causes cancer and then we try to develop drugs that cure it! And where is the FDA in all this? Probably in the back pocket of the food and drug companies.
11 - roger nowosielski
I don't see why it should puzzle you, Christine. For altering the food has mostly to do with adultering it. And the reason is profit.