This article discusses the fact that even though the nutrition facts panel on packaged food are regulated, the labels on the front of the box can be extremely misleading. For example, when a food is labelled as “fresh” it only means that it must be “raw or unprocessed, and never have been frozen or heated” so that doesn’t mean that they have been either picked or killed recently, only that they are unprocessed. That could mean that the food you are eating has been sitting in the store or been in transit for weeks and could accumulate bacteria from being out for so long.The author states that food manufacturers stretch the truth of the condition of the food, then goes on to explain what some deceptive labels actually mean. Ruth Frechman, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, says that the most important thing for consumers to do is to “be informed so they know how to interpret the label”.
I chose this article and this topic for my research paper because I believe that all of us have the right to know exactly how our food has been handled before it enters our bodies. Even though we most likely won’t be able to change the way that our food is handled before it ends up on the shelves, we at least should be as informed as we can about what the labels really mean, so we can try to be as healthy as possible. Most people won’t be able to choose the healthier options because healthier foods cost more than unhealthy foods, but understanding what “fresh” and “fat-free” really mean can help the consumer to at least wash their food before they eat it or not eat as big of a portion.
It is strange how food labels are allowed to be deceiving. I think that consumers knowing what food they are putting into their body is extremely important. Although it is good for consumers to know what every label means, I do not think that it should be their job to have to do research in order to find information that should be readily available and clearly stated on packages of food. I also think that all labels on food need to be verified. Companies are able to put things like "natural" without it being verified or certified, deceiving consumers. Learning about the labels on food can help consumers rebel against the food industry, if they desire to, or choose the best food to feed themselves and their families.
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