Why shouldn't food companies trick us?

1. How do food companies trick you?
2. How do food companies mislead consumers?
3. Do food companies lie?
4. Can food companies lie about nutrition facts?
5. What is the 5/20 rule?
6. What is the biggest trick or deception that food companies do on their food labels?
7. Are food labels Misleading?
8. How does food packaging trick consumers?
9. How are food labels deceiving?
10. Is it illegal to lie on nutrition labels?
11. Is it illegal to not have nutrition label?
12. Why do food companies lie about ingredients?
13. Why do companies say not a low calorie food?
14. Why do nutrition labels lie?
15. Can Nutrition Facts be wrong?

How do food companies trick you?

Muted colors: When food manufacturers want to give you the impression that their food is more healthful and natural (read: free of artificial ingredients, less processed) they tend to steer clear of bold colors on their packaging in favor of lighter, more muted tones.

How do food companies mislead consumers?

If you take a stroll down any aisle in the grocery store, consumers will see all kinds of food labels touting products as being healthy choices. For example, cholesterol is only found in animal-based products. ... Therefore, produce of any kind should never contain cholesterol.

Do food companies lie?

But while food manufacturers can't lie to you about the nutrition and ingredients of their products, they can easily mislead you into thinking something is healthier than it really is. ... Here's a list of the most popular food package claims used by food manufacturers—and what they really mean for you and your health.

Can food companies lie about nutrition facts?

Nutritional facts are FDA approved so we all trust what the label displays. However, nutritional facts can actually be misleading. The law allows a margin of error up to 20 percent. The FDA has never established a system where companies must comply with the law it's expected to be self-enforced according to usnews.com.

What is the 5/20 rule?

Though not an end-all test, a quick way to read the percent daily values is to use the 5/20 rule. This says that if the %DV is less than 5% there is a low amount of this nutrient, while if the %DV is greater than 20% there is a high amount of this nutrient.

What is the biggest trick or deception that food companies do on their food labels?

This trick is called "label padding" and it's commonly used by junk food manufacturers who want to jump on the health food bandwagon without actually producing healthy foods. A third trick involves hiding dangerous ingredients behind innocent-sounding names that fool consumers into thinking they're safe.

Are food labels Misleading?

Manufacturers are often dishonest in the way they use these labels. They tend to use health claims that are misleading and in some cases downright false. Examples include many high-sugar breakfast cereals like whole-grain Cocoa Puffs. Despite what the label may imply, these products are not healthy.

How does food packaging trick consumers?

A classic packaging trick is to shrink products and keep the packaging the same. In some cases, products are redesigned to mask the smaller size. Foods such as cereal in boxes might go down in weight, but the box stays the same or is altered in height and width so it's not immediately noticeable.

How are food labels deceiving?

Products are often labeled with what they do not have to imply healthfulness and superiority to competitors. Consumers purchasing a no sugar added juice may be inclined to believe that there is little sugar or calories in the product, when in fact the opposite is true.

Is it illegal to lie on nutrition labels?

The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act—which provides authority for FDA's consumer-protection work—requires that labels on packaged food products in interstate commerce not be false or misleading in any way.

Is it illegal to not have nutrition label?

If you answered yes, you are legally obligated to provide nutritional information on your menu (including drive thru menus). With the passage of the Affordable Care Act in March 2010, section 4205 included a requirement that establishments with 20 or more locations provide their customers menu information.

Why do food companies lie about ingredients?

Summary Food manufacturers often put small amounts of healthy ingredients in their products to fool people into thinking that the products are healthy.

Why do companies say not a low calorie food?

By requiring the “not a low calorie food” label on products which claim to promote a low-carb style but fail to meet the FDA's requirements for a low calorie food, it is hoped that consumers will be better able to make smart choices about what they eat.

Why do nutrition labels lie?

Labels provide a number that likely overestimates the calories available in unprocessed foods. Food labels ignore the costs of the digestive process – losses to bacteria and energy spent digesting. The costs are lower for processed items, so the amount of overestimation on their labels is less.

Can Nutrition Facts be wrong?

But nutritional labels can be up to 20% inaccurate, according to the FDA guidelines. That means, for example, that a serving of Greek yogurt labeled to contain 100 calories could actually weigh in at 80 to 120 calories.