FDA Cracks Down on Deceptive Food Labels

Manufacturers Add "Smart Choices" Labels to Packages, Mimicking Government Nutrition Labels; Bid to Push Processed Foods?

(CBS/AP)  Ever wondered how that "Smart Choices" sticker wound up on the front of Froot Loops or Cocoa Puffs?

Well, federal health officials are having similar thoughts, and they're warning food manufacturers.

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that nutritional logos from food manufacturers may be misleading consumers about the actual health benefits of cereal, crackers and other processed foods. The agency sent a letter to companies saying it will begin cracking down on inaccurate food labeling. The FDA did not name specific products or give a timeline for enforcement.

Smart choices is a system designed by and paid for by the nation's major food manufacturers. U.S. manufacturers, including Kellogg, Kraft Foods and General Mills, rolled out their so-called Smart Choices program last year, amid growing concern about obesity rates. The green labels appear on the front of foods that meet certain standards for calories per serving and fat content.

But consumer advocates complain about lax standards for the program, with logos appearing on everything from frozen sweets to sugary cereals. Approximately 500 products, including Fruit Loops, Kid Cuisine cheeseburgers, Teddy Grahams and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese carry the Smart Choices label.

"There are products that have gotten the Smart Choices check mark that are almost 50 percent sugar," FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said during a call with reporters.

"The point of the program is to make processed foods look healthy when you really want people eating foods that have been as minimally processed as possible," Dr. Marian Nestle, a professor of nutritional studies at New York University, told CBS News correspondent Randall Pinkston last month.

Related: Experts Say Industry Food Labels Deceptive

Nestle was astounded by some of the products that rate the Smart Choice designation.

"This is the first product that I've seen with this logo on it," she said, holding a box of Fruit Loops cereal. "And I was kind of amazed because this is a sugary cereal."

The FDA is developing proposed nutritional standards that would have to be met before manufacturers place such claims on their packages, Hamburg said. She added that she hoped industry would cooperate with the FDA to develop standardized "labeling that all Americans can trust and use to build better diets."

There are more than a half-dozen labels crowding grocery packages, including the American Heart Association's heart-shaped logo, Giant Food Store's Healthy Ideas box and Supervalu's Nutritional IQ logo.

"There's a growing proliferation of forms and symbols, check marks, numerical ratings, stars, heart icons and the like," said Hamburg. "There's truly a cacophony of approaches, not unlike the tower of Babel."

The FDA plans to research whether one particular approach would make it easier for consumers to select healthy foods. Hamburg pointed to the success of the U.K.'s traffic light system, which uses red, yellow and green lights to highlight nutritional quality.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association said its members will work with the FDA to provide useful nutritional information to consumers. The Washington-based group - which includes Kraft, Nestle USA and most other large food processors - said companies already have reformulated 10,000 products to make them healthier.

Such changes includes ConAgra's move to reduce sodium in its soup, hot dogs and other products by 20 percent, and General Mills adding fiber to its cereals.

[denvermorgan3000]

its typical when the democrats get it like obama they start by poisoning the food supply.

[rf35]

Dr. Marian Nestle, a professor of nutritional studies at New York University...
FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg...

What ironic names: Nestle, also a major candy company and Hamburg, like heart disease on a bun.

[credibility2]

It's also the consumer's responsibility to remain informed and keep on top of things, instead of waiting for their nanny government to do the thinking for them and help keep these morons ignorant.

[warsux]

this has NOTHING To do with Republicant or Democrap. But, it is they and their idiotic blind followers who repeat everything their leaders say without question.

We have a two party system. Both parties are nothing more than robbery brokers. For instance, healthcare. The Dems have a super majority, but act like they cant anything done. Why? Well, United Healthcare's checks cleared. So, they instantly stop doing the right thing, and start speaking as nothing short of a mouth piece for corporate pigs. The Republicans just dont care about anything but themselves. They seem to think healthcare is just fine (well, I would too if my insurance was paid for by the taxpayer, and I could have doctors come to me on someone elses bill).

The Pentagon spends more than most countries in a year. For what? Maybe if we acted like adults and kept our noses out of everyone else's business, maybe we wouldnt be in wars every year. Just because your neighbors have cookies, doesnt mean you break into their house because you are the big kid on the block. I am sure the meth heads and becksters will tell me I am un-American. However, how American is it to let American children suffer due to lack of health insurance, while we foot the bill for Iraqi children? Please, come on. Throw your ignorant statements about. Show your true colors like those creeps that were applauding that AMERICA didnt get to host the summer games that would bring in billions.

[warsux]

apprently, the GMA's checks bounced.

Until Americans stand up, and realize we do not live in a free country, do not live in a capitalist country, and smell coffee that we do indeed live in a corpratist country, we will be all stuck in line at wal mart getting fed things we cant pronounce, the banks will continue to get bailouts after stealing billions, companies like exxon will continue to get corporate welfare and so on. This is NOT a Rep/Dem thing. No partisanship here at all. Just reality.

We are in Iraq and Afghanistan spending billions, putting in new infrastructure, hospitals, paying for the healthcare of many Iraqis and Afghaniis, while we sit over here and argue (and carry guns and assault rifles to healthcare forums.... yeah yeah, exercise your rights, would you carry a gun to your neighbor's wedding?) about covering a 6yo how gets denied coverage by a multi-billion dollar company that cloaks itself behind a non-prof.

Anyone that cannot see this is nothing short of blind.

[pigsinlipstick]

GREAT POST, DRIGHT ON.

WE ARE NOTHING BUT SLAVES TO THE CORPORATION, TO CAPITALISM,

SADLY REPUBLI'CON's LOVE IT THAT WAY AND THEY ARE NOT VERY BRIGHT.

[pigsinlipstick]

WELL,

IT WILL NOT TAKE TOO LONG FOR THE PARTY OF 'NO',

THE PARTY OF 'LYING', THE PARTY OF 'WARS TO NOWHERE'

TO FIND SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS,

THE REPUBLI'CON's HATE AMERICA.