When it comes to making food choices there are literally thousands of options to pick from. Whether the product is eaten, drank, organic, or processed, it can seem difficult to choose the right path. On top of that, food manufacturers stake claims on front of their specific products to help make the decision for you. But are these claims actually true? If not, how is the average Jane or Joe supposed to decipher between truth and deception? Claims like “no trans fat,” “whole grain,” and “good source of fiber” are just a few that have us questioning our judgment. Do these food companies really think we are that stupid? Unfortunately they do and sadder yet for the most part, we are. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is constantly stepping up for us against such claims. As a result, food manufacturers are saying their First Amendment right is being hindered. In the meantime we are left to educate ourselves and make the right choices. Here are some of the most common misleading statements on food labels today:
No Trans Fat. In order for a food to be considered trans fat free it must contain less than 0.5 grams per serving. So if you are unknowingly consuming such a product, most likely you are going to eat more than one serving, which results in multiples of trans fat being consumed. And since there is no safe amount of this type of fat for people to consume, it is extremely hazardous to your health to even tip toe around it. What’s even worse is that the more saturated fat that is in a product, the more trans fat it may have as well. So in order to know if you are eating trans fat for sure, turn over the product and read the label. If it contains the words “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated,” the food contains trans fat and is worth avoiding.
Whole Grain. Breads, cereals, and snacks, amongst other items have been labeled as being whole grain. But in all actuality, a product only needs to contain 51% whole grain to be able to make this claim. That’s barely over half! When you are reading the ingredient label, stay away from the words “enriched,” “bleached,” and “refined.” The more processed or refined a product is, the more sugars and other unhealthy substances it contains. Instead look for the word “whole” next to every type of flour in the ingredient list.
Good Source of Fiber. A lot of food manufacturers are now stating that their product contains a sufficient amount of fiber. Fiber is good for us in the sense that it helps to lower blood sugar levels as well as it helps remove cholesterol. The majority of the foods that claim the “good source of fiber” usually are adding something called isolated fibers. These are usually man made with purified powders of polydextrose and other substances that do not lower cholesterol or lower blood sugar. Instead opt for real fiber choices like wheat bran, nuts, vegetables, oats, beans, and barley.
Made with Real Fruit. There is no actual law or guideline that is required to determine how much actual fruit is in a specific product, as long as there is some. Unfortunately this may literally be just a couple of grapes or a slice of an apple. When reading the ingredient list, make sure it does not contain the words “high fructose corn syrup” or “sugar” (especially first on the list). Instead opt for real fruits in whole form such as apples, oranges, bananas, etc.
So just to be safe, every time you are going to make a choice about a food, ask yourself one simple question: Does this food manufacturer have my best interests at heart? Most of the time they do not. So it is up to you to research a little bit, to read the fine print, and know exactly what you are putting into your precious body.
