Raise your hand if you’ve ever picked up a product at the store because the label grabbed your attention ✋
We’ve all done it.
There’s nothing wrong with being curious about a product due to the claims on the label. But your decision to buy it should NOT be made based on those claims.
Companies are smart. They know how to use buzzwords and frame their nutrition to be as appealing as possible to the masses. It’s not hard to spin a product to sound more appealing. I mean, simply saying “all-natural” is enough to get people to buy your product these days.
If I were to introduce you to a cookie that’s vegan, soy free, contains no trans fat, cholesterol, or sugar alcohols, AND is made with real cocoa, it sounds relatively healthy, doesn’t it? By ignoring every other aspect of the product, you can easily frame Oreos to sound like a healthy snack.
How about a cereal that is gluten free, made with whole grains, contains 12 vitamins and minerals AND is only 110 calories with 6g of protein?! That’s Lucky Charms, my friends. Oh, and the protein content is only when combined with 1/2 cup skim milk, which labels will do allllll the time.
While the FDA does regulate the claims you can make on packages, there are tons of loopholes and workarounds that allow you to spin a product pretty much however you want. That’s why it’s important to understand macronutrients and figure out what is important to YOU.
At the end of the day, you should be able to pick a product up and make your own decisions. Don’t believe a product is a great source of protein because the label tells you- learn to read the nutritional info and make that conclusion on your own.
