We all want to believe we are making the right choices when it comes to our eating habits. Marketers are also well aware of this and have become very crafty at using terminology, nicknamed “healthwashing” that is technically correct and appeals to our desire to eat healthily.
But don’t be fooled by healthwashing. Read the nutrition facts label to know what you are buying and ignore such terms as:
Made with Whole Grain / A Good Source of Whole Grain
There aren’t any FDA regulations on how much whole grain something has to have in order to qualify as whole grain. More importantly, foods that are “made with whole grain” don’t have to disclose how much bleached and refined grain the product also contains.
Made with Real / Made with Pure
Cheese should be “made with real milk,” strawberry jam should be “made with real strawberries,” and frozen hamburger patties should be “made with pure beef.” Right?
Natural
The “natural” label is perhaps the most widespread and the most meaningless. There are no regulations for the word “natural,” and it can be applied to virtually anything.
Made with Organic
“Made with Organic” is not at all the same as certified “organic.” When something is 100% certified organic, every ingredient must be organic. When a food is “made with organic,” it’s a red flag that a couple of inexpensive organic ingredients are covering up a slew of not so great conventional ingredients.
Gluten Free
“Gluten-free” has now become yet another marketing scam that adds a healthy vibe to junky foods. There’s absolutely a legitimate need for the “gluten-free” label; however, while Pop Rocks, Lifesavers, and Butterfinger Blizzards may indeed be gluten-free, they’re certainly not healthy.
Artisan
“Artisan” evokes warm, homey images of flower-covered bakers making wholesome, whole grain bread. Unfortunately, “artisan” isn’t regulated by the FDA and means absolutely, positively nothing. It is pure and simple marketing.
Sugar Free/Low Sugar/No High Fructose
It sounds good – and occasionally reduced sugar is really just that: lower sugar. But, more often than not, sugar-free means there’s a bizarre chemical concoction that takes the place of sugar – or regular corn syrup that takes the place of high fructose corn syrup. If you’re going to eat sugar, real sugar is always best: unbleached cane sugar, maple syrup, or honey.
Fat Free / Low Fat
Fat-free or low-fat foods usually have crazy thickeners, stabilizers, and fillers that their “real” counterparts don’t need. Consider full-fat dairy products; just eat a little less of them.
