See how the type of nutrition label impacts your understanding.

<span style="font-size: large;">I have spoken of front of pack nutrition labels many times and provided examples of different systems.  A system can be one that appoints stars for meeting a certain criteria, or one that uses a symbol to denote healthiness, or my favorite, one that uses a multiple traffic light.  The multiple traffic light system shows whether the product is low, medium or high in amount of each nutrient most people should limit (i.e., sugar, salt, sat fat and calories).</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The most important thing about a front of pack label is that it be standardized across all products, manufacturers and restaurants (if it goes to menu labeling).  Imagine how confusing it would be (and is now in the US) if each company decided what information, if any, to put on the front of a package.  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">When it comes to making health and weight related dietary choices the most important disclosures are these: calories, sodium, sugar, and probably saturated fat. We need to be able to see the amount of these nutrients at a glance across items as we shop.  The traffic light system goes one better.  If the traffic light is used, a consumer does not have to do math or know the number of grams or milligrams that are recommended for any one nutrient in a daily diet.  The consumer just has to know that green is better (GO) and red should be limited or avoided (STOP).  In essence, a consumer can aim for mostly green and yellow.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The UK has begun its voluntary traffic light labeling program in grocery stores and it seems to be doing well.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">When researchers and public health professionals were making the case for front of pack labels, they put together an on line quiz to test consumers understanding of nutrition labels.  It is still available, <a href="http://consumerfoodquiz.polldaddy.com/s/consumersinternational" target="_blank">here.</a>  I took it and suggest you do as well.  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />

See how the type of nutrition label impacts your understanding.

I have spoken of front of pack nutrition labels many times and provided examples of different systems.  A system can be one that appoints st...

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Fit and Active (fit facts) The Right Front of Pack system?

<span style="font-size: large;">   One of my classmates was eating a snack the other day and the package caught my attention.  I noticed that it had a front of pack label and that the back of the pack contained an explanation of the label system.  I did not recognize the brand of mini rice cakes.  I thought that the Quaker iced/frosted mini rice cake snacks had a new package and label.  I asked my friend if I could have her empty package.  I <i>know</i>, I am that weird.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   Turns out, the snack cakes were a store brand and the store has implemented this labeling across all its products.  It is from ALDI.  They refer to their scheme or system as Fit Facts.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   I am 100% in favor of a front of pack system or label that highlights nutrients that are important to consider in our diets.  Nutrients that we get too much of and should limit.  The problem is a lack of standardization over which nutrients should be highlighted.  The Institute of Medicine has given us some guidelines but the recommendations have not translated into rules - YET.  I wrote about them <a href="http://yourhealtheducator.blogspot.com/2011/10/fop-final-recommendations.html" target="_blank">here</a>, almost a year ago.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   The ALDI labeling, which you can see below does not make things clear for the shopper.  For example, the rice cakes package I 'borrowed' shows the amount in grams or milligrams(sodium) of four items.  I disagree with the inclusion of total fat because saturated fat is the item to limit and though three of the four show a percent daily value (which is suspect but helpful) the fourth SUGAR has no percent daily value because it has no daily value.  If the FOP system used was the multiple traffic light, the criteria would have each of those items as either red, amber or green. In the rice cake case, the sugar grams are 6.  That seems low right?  It's not.  The total weight of the package is 20grams.  That means that the product is 30% sugar.  The multiple traffic light (MTL) uses red to warn that a product is high in sugar if it contains<u> </u>as little as<u>14% </u>! It is okay to eat this 90 calories and 6 grams of sugar, just don't tell yourself it is a low sugar product.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   The front of pack systems are needed and they can be helpful but  this label does not make it easy for you to know if something is "healthy."  We should not have to get out our calculators and divide 6 by 20 to get our percent of sugar!</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMOCVz3ryMFNXi6DqOd7e3dpG_PqKzkoeMI7Z3gh-tFZ9crRC96cDmf8jcN7t8IlJFQeWDHZRvLJX0tdxN321IoyguT2oLM7uYYQYUgXIiN7LsEF8NUt8hL5u4cAX7cIRj93RAB718Y5C/s1600/ALDI_labels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMOCVz3ryMFNXi6DqOd7e3dpG_PqKzkoeMI7Z3gh-tFZ9crRC96cDmf8jcN7t8IlJFQeWDHZRvLJX0tdxN321IoyguT2oLM7uYYQYUgXIiN7LsEF8NUt8hL5u4cAX7cIRj93RAB718Y5C/s320/ALDI_labels.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The picture on the bottom left is the Front of Pack system.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>

Fit and Active (fit facts) The Right Front of Pack system?

   One of my classmates was eating a snack the other day and the package caught my attention.  I noticed that it had a front of pack label a...

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NonDairy - Good Fat - No Sugar - Low Calories

<span style="font-size: large;">   In my blog, I am more likely to make food 'group' recommendations than product recommendations - my most well known product rec being  Smuckers All Natural Peanut Butter. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   Today I will share the labels of two products - two brands, in one category that I<b> do</b> highly recommend.  Almond Milk. There is a continuing controversy over dairy products, esp. milk and if you are not allergic to nuts, this is a fantastic alternative.  It is better for several reasons.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   The reasons are calories, sugar and fat.  Taste may not be among the plus factors, because I am  suggesting the unsweetened versions ONLY.  Please don't go for the sweetened as those just add sugar. <span style="font-size: large;">However, using the almond milks in recipes, cereal and coffee as opposed to drinking it straight is what I have in mind.  It is really best not to drink our calories anyways.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">   Below are two labels.  One brand doesn't break down their fat content but both of them have fat without saturated fat.  Therefore,  the grams are all GOOD fat.  Please understand, there <u>IS</u> good fat and you need it.  These products give you healthy fat with calcium and without sugar.  The calorie content is very low.  The calories are half that of the same serving size of skim milk (90c).  The serving size is NOT small - it is one cup.   BTW, whole milk has ~140 cals, 2% ~ 130s, 1% ~110s.  Full disclosure - almond milk pales in comparison to skim milk with regard to protein.  Still, protein is not one of the nutrients that Americans lack so you'll be fine.</span></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99XIKHry-VFcd5cth-_Tg8rMD3vLr8BYBFbElPnYgFed72kal4wAWP7J_MSbkPPofROFB2WxmW_TZoQvluIsEi73MDkDGNkEL0B1KP7znI85ttpN8064P-PLc84oo-mwrsYuTfJdG60OL/s1600/AlmondBreeze.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99XIKHry-VFcd5cth-_Tg8rMD3vLr8BYBFbElPnYgFed72kal4wAWP7J_MSbkPPofROFB2WxmW_TZoQvluIsEi73MDkDGNkEL0B1KP7znI85ttpN8064P-PLc84oo-mwrsYuTfJdG60OL/s1600/AlmondBreeze.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is Almond Breeze.  It has better amounts of Good Fat</span>. <span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJXAb-i_AzPdD_09TANwA7pWsZ-pZtqy7YEjQxRw8WFgMKGxz3iGcRbdok4JfW1UcmdXJTOK4edu467r98-eddzv-dAWcHNJDlapLRUhlfltl8McYdRjPBkDfOMt947qzulwg09FRUclU/s1600/Silk_Almond.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJXAb-i_AzPdD_09TANwA7pWsZ-pZtqy7YEjQxRw8WFgMKGxz3iGcRbdok4JfW1UcmdXJTOK4edu467r98-eddzv-dAWcHNJDlapLRUhlfltl8McYdRjPBkDfOMt947qzulwg09FRUclU/s1600/Silk_Almond.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is  Silk Pure Almond - More Expensive but better Calcium Percentage</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJXAb-i_AzPdD_09TANwA7pWsZ-pZtqy7YEjQxRw8WFgMKGxz3iGcRbdok4JfW1UcmdXJTOK4edu467r98-eddzv-dAWcHNJDlapLRUhlfltl8McYdRjPBkDfOMt947qzulwg09FRUclU/s1600/Silk_Almond.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I use almond milk in my oat bran, my cake and cereal bar recipes, and when I make sugar free instant pudding.</span><br /><br />

NonDairy - Good Fat - No Sugar - Low Calories

   In my blog, I am more likely to make food 'group' recommendations than product recommendations - my most well known product rec b...

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Product Line - Label Alert

<span style="font-size: large;">   I wish this post were an update on national menu labeling or standardized front of pack product labeling, but it is not.  I am still unaware of an expected date for action on either of these.  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   What I want to draw your attention to today is a potential "trick" label.  I have noted for your education that the words "all natural" or "natural" on a food label do not guarantee anything more than this: "minimally processed."  If you have a definition for minimally processed, its as good as any because the entire issue is cloaked in vagueness.  If you really want something that has limited processing (and you probably should) then buy fresh fruits and vegetables.  Hopefully, your chicken, fish and meat would not be processed, but don't take that for granted.  Read the label (e.g. chicken is often 'plumped' with salt).</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   But those are not the tricks of which I speak today.  I refer to a product line.  Just because a group of products is named Wholesome Goodness does not mean that any of the items are good for you or healthy.  There are several criteria by which to measure, but you might consider the amounts of added sugar, sodium, Trans fats and saturated fat, as well as calories per gram (or serving size).    </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   If you are buying tomato sauce for example, you may have Del Monte, Hunts, a value brand and Wholesome Goodness.  The trick is that consumers see Goodness and think it is the healthiest one.  That may or may not be true.  Don't be sold by names or label disclosures, read the ingredients and nutrition facts panel to make a better decision. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   This is all we can do unless or until the FDA/USDA come up with a standardized symbol and criteria. I would not trust individual food manufacturers as their goal is to sell a product not to improve the quality of your diet.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="387" id="il_fi" src="http://mypbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/wholesome-goodness-lineup.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is just a product line, not an accredited line of healthy or low calorie products.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />

Product Line - Label Alert

   I wish this post were an update on national menu labeling or standardized front of pack product labeling, but it is not.  I am still unaw...

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