Health

Do Food Labels Lead to Healthier Eating?

The UK's system for providing nutrition information is not inspiring better choices. Where to go from here?

By Marion Nestle

A new study from the U.K. suggests that traffic-light labels on food products are not inducing people to choose healthier options. The study contradicts the results of a previous study by the British Food Standards Agency, which found the traffic-light labels to be preferred by consumers, of use to them, and a stimulant to manufacturers to reformulate products to qualify for more of those little green dots.

While the arguments go on, and the FDA and the Institute of Medicine conduct their own studies of front-of-package labeling, and the FTC establishes its own standards for advertising, I have a suggestion: How about removing ALL health and nutrition claims from junk foods?

How about trying to think about foods as foods, not drugs. Let food packages carry Nutrition Facts labels and lists of ingredients, but that's all. It would save everyone a lot of trouble. Federal agencies could get back to worrying about more important things. City and state attorneys could too. And consumers would no longer be misled by absurd claims that cereals or snacks will make people healthy.

Just a thought.

Marion Nestle is a professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University. She is the author of Food Politics, Safe Food, What to Eat, and Pet Food Politics.