Beware: Food makers can be deceptive
With “healthy eating” becoming a nearly $40 billion trend, it’s no surprise that manufacturers of food products are walking a fine line between legal and deceptive advertising. You won’t be hard pressed to find a product that claims “clinical research shows that eating this food can lower your cholesterol” or “this food helps you lose weight.” Natasha Singer writes about some companies that have taken claims a bit too far in a recent New York Times article.
Just turn on your television, flip through your favorite magazine, or open your refrigerator door. You’ll have no trouble finding a food that will surely help you live longer, better, or stronger – well, according to the advertising at least. Many of the most well-known companies, like General Mills and Kellogg, are marketing their products’ so-called health benefits by sometimes making inflated claims.
It’s important to note that these companies don’t claim that their products prevent or cure diseases – making such a suggestion would be against federal regulations. But take a peek at the fine line between legal and deceptive, and you’ll find a crowd of companies carefully, but not so gracefully, dancing.
One of our favorite mentions in the article was about a very well-known beverage – Welch’s 100% Grape Juice. The packaging for this tasty drink proudly sports the coveted “red heart” from the American Heart Association – a glossy accessory that probably costs more than a pretty penny. Here’s what’s most intriguing about the juice: with 36 grams of sugar, Welch's 100% Grape Juice has more sugar than a regular-sized Snickers candy bar (with 30 grams of sugar). Although we’re certainly not suggesting that you ditch the bottle for the bar, we are suggesting that consumers should examine food labels a little more closely, not rely solely on endorsements from “experts.”
The aptly titled “Food With Benefits, or So They Say” goes on to talk about steps regulatory agencies are taking to better protect consumers. The Federal Trade Commission, for example, filed complaints against Kellogg for its Frosted Mini-Wheats breakfast cereal and against Dannon for its Activia yogurt product. More recently, the makers of Pom Wonderful have faced scrutiny because of claims made in product advertising.
Check out the article to read about the ongoing battle between the government and multi-billion dollar companies.
