5 False Food Label Claims

Sometimes we make food choices based on what we “think” we read on the label.  Something that I am learning while on my journey to a new me is "what looks like a healthy food choice on the outside isn’t always all that it is wrapped up to be on the inside."   See if you agree with these 5 false food label claims.

"Made With Real Fruit"

What you see: Made with real fruit

What you get: “There are absolutely no regulations around this claim,”  Consider Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars Mixed Berry. Sounds like a solid preride bite. But the made-with-real-fruit filling contains puree concentrate (more like sugar than actual fruit) of blueberries, strawberries, apples, and raspberries.  Which means this is not as healthy as it sounds on the label.
The solution: The lower a fruit is listed in the ingredients, the less the product contains. “If you want to increase your fruit intake, rely on whole fruits,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RD, author of Read It Before You Eat It.

"Lightly Sweetened"

What you see: Lightly sweetened

What you get: Unlike “sugar-free” and “no added sugars,” this claim isn’t regulated by the FDA so it is very easy to be fooled: Wheaties FUEL, a cereal that’s marketed specifically to athletes and carries the lightly sweetened label, contains more sugar per ¾-cup serving (14g) than the same amount of Fruit Loops (9g).  And I don't know about you but if I am going to eat a "sugar cereal" I would opt for the Fruit Loops every time.

The solution: Check the nutrition facts panel. The American Heart Association recommends that women keep added sugars below 24 grams per day and men aim for less than 36g.

"Gluten-free"


What you see: Gluten-free

What you get: To make this claim, a product must be made without wheat, barley, or rye. But there have been reports of cross-contamination with gluten-containing grains during growing or manufacturing, says Pamela Cureton, RD, a dietitian at the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

The solution: Look for a seal from the Gluten-Free Certification Organization, the Celiac Sprue Association, or the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, which test products to ensure they have no gluten.
 

"Added Fiber"

What you see: Added fiber

What you get: Though products with this claim do actually pack additional fiber—often listed as polydextrose, inulin (derived from chicory root), or maltodextrin—it’s unknown whether consuming them has the same benefits, such as lowering cholesterol, as the fiber found naturally in whole foods.

The solution: It’s okay to consume added fiber (often found in cereal, yogurt, and energy bars), but too much can cause a ride-derailing bellyache. “Aim for 14 grams per 1,000 calories.”

"Wild Rice"

What you see: Wild rice

What you get: “True wild rice comes from a plant that’s indigenous to certain lakes and rivers in the Midwest and Canada,” says Peter David, wildlife biologist at the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission in Wisconsin. “Most people eat the kind produced out of California, which may be treated with chemicals.”

The solution: Look for the plant name Zizania palustris on the ingredient list. It packs four times the amount of protein, 73 times the potassium, and 12 times the fiber per serving as its impostor

It is no wonder we are not able to lose weight as quickly as we would like!  With all of  the false labels out  there I think we need to read the list of ingredients on the back side of the “label”.  I believe this is the only way to really know what we are eating.  So next time you are walking the aisles of your super market  and reach for the products that sound good on the label, turn it around and look at what it is really made of.