Food packaging health claims

What do food packaging labels really mean?

Packaged food at the supermarkets often have prominent labels telling us how apparently healthy the item is. But can we really believe these claims, especially considering that as a nation we are suffering ever greater levels of chronic disease? If the food we are sold is so healthy, how can this be so? Perhaps the messages on the food packaging are not as honest as they seem. Here’s a quick breakdown of how some common claims can be misleading:

"Low fat"

We are trained to think that fat is bad so low fat is good. But good fats are essential for so many aspects of our body’s functioning: cell structure, brain and nerve function, hormone creation and nutrient absorption to name a few. Fat also carries flavour and texture, so low fat products are often higher in sugar and fillers to compensate.

"Low sugar"

If a product claims to be low in sugar, or sugar free, it will often contain artificial sweeteners instead. These substances have been shown to drive hunger levels and obesity, as well as disrupting the gut microbiome. Fruit juice concentrate is also often used as a sweetener because, although it is essentially sugar, it does not have to be labeled as “added sugar”.

"High protein"

Protein is an essential nutrient but many snacks and bars labeled “high protein” are also loaded with added sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial ingredients.

"Low cholesterol"

This is meaningless. Most cholesterol in your body is made in your liver, and the body regulates levels so that cholesterol in food does not impact levels in the body.

"Natural"

There is no legal definition of “natural” in food labelling.

Although the word evokes a sense of healthy, unprocessed food, in reality tests found that the “majority of products contain chemical and synthetic substances which are far from natural”.

In addition chemical are often renamed to be more appealing to consumers.

"Sourdough"

Unfortunately mass produced bread labeled as sourdough is often “sourfaux” bread, made with fast industrial processes with some sourdough culture mixed in. This is not the same as the sourdough process and does not confer the same benefits.

"Organic"

This one is actually a certified term, not a marketing one, so it does carry real meaning. In the UK, it means that the product meets specific legal standards, avoiding GM ingredients and synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, and adhering to strict animal welfare rules.

It’s not a given that organic food is more nutritious, but studies show they do tend to be. Organic meat and milk in particular may have up to 50% more omega 3 essential fatty acids than non-organic. In addition they come with fewer pesticides and lower levels of heavy metals such as cadmium.

So what should we do?

Unfortunately we need to be aware that main goal of the food giants is to make profit, rather than to keep you healthy. It is therefore not generally a good idea to take prominent health claims on the front of food packaging on trust.

Here are a few simple measures you can take at the supermarket:

• Where possible buy whole natural foods

• If there is a “health” claim on the packaging, be suspicious

• Read the ingredients list at the back, not the marketing claim on the front

• Look for recognised third-party certifications such as the Soil Association for truly organic or natural products

  
  

Examples of food packaging health claims