The ingredient and nutrition information on food product labels has evolved over the years. In 1990 the Nutrition Facts label was created. Food manufacturers had to comply with this new food labeling system that identified calories, serving sizes, vitamins and minerals, carbohydrate, protein, and some additional specifics in regard to fat. At that time, I spent a lot of time with my patients, explaining the information on the label. I especially focused on helping them understand the differences between total fat, saturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Label Impact

Thinking back to the 1980s and 1990s, our attempt to highlight fat on labels backfired. Aiming to help people reduce the fat in their diets, fat was often replaced with more sugar or sodium. Food portions became larger, and new calorie-laden, fat-modified foods were created which flooded the market. In the end, these products did not impact public health.

Yet the FDA claims that this new label will allow ‘greater understanding of nutrition science’.

Hmmn? Unless you want to read a lot of scientific journals and textbooks, the food label itself is not going to provide you with a greater understanding of nutrition science. One on one education from a registered dietitian could provide that, more instruction in elementary and secondary schools could provide that, but a nutrition label will not.

As the opening statement in this CNN story reads: “Choosing healthier foods in the grocery store may soon be a little easier.”

Really? Will the learning curve and a new food label make your grocery shopping easier promising you a healthier diet?

News flash: I can offer you three easy steps to choosing a healthier diet:

  1. Buy and eat more whole foods (foods that are-what-they-are). Keep fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs, fresh meats, beans, fresh fish, milk, oats, rice, barley and other natural grains, in your regular rotation.
  2. Choose some slightly processed foods to round out life. However, you can include pasta, whole grain bread (but not too much), and wholesome dairy foods (yogurt, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, and other cheeses). You can also include fruit juice, canned or frozen fruits or vegetables.
  3. Choose desserts, candy, sugary drinks, drink mixes, alcohol, chips, crackers, as well as other snack foods in moderation (as in ≤1 serving daily with occasional splurges on weekends, holidays or birthdays)

Real food is what should fill your kitchen and pantry and body. However, you can also make room for some treats too – cookies, donuts, soda, juice, chips or crackers and packaged food for occasional convenience.

A new food label is not going to help America choose healthier foods. It hasn’t helped reduce obesity or disease, which are in fact both increasing. To get personalized health and dietary guidance, make an appointment with a registered dietitian in a local outpatient clinic.