Food Industry Halts Smart Choices Labeling

(AP)  The Smart Choices nutrition labeling program, created voluntarily by nine large U.S. manufacturers, is halting after federal regulators said such systems could mislead consumers, officials with the labeling group said Friday.

Industry leaders launched the program this year to highlight foods that meet certain nutritional standards with a green label on package fronts.

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that such programs may mislead consumers about the health benefits of certain foods, and it told manufacturers it will crack down on inaccurate labeling. It did not criticize specific products or label programs or give a timeline for enforcement.

Food makers, grocers, health organizations and others have created an array of voluntary nutrition labeling programs. Regulators say the breadth of criteria can confuse consumers.

Smart Choices, which includes Kellogg Co., Kraft Foods Inc. and General Mills Inc., has been criticized for including processed foods that are high in sugar, such as Froot Loops cereal and Cracker Jack snack food.

Officials with Smart Choices in Washington, D.C., said Friday that the group will "postpone" active operations and not encourage wider use of the logo while the FDA investigates labeling issues.

Smart Choices stood behind its nutritional criteria, saying the program's criteria are based on federal dietary guidelines and its efforts are a step in the right direction. Board member Richard Kahn said the group supports the FDA's effort.

"The impetus for the Smart Choices program was that there were and are too many systems," he said. "We applaud the concept of having one system nationwide."

He noted the group informed the FDA about Smart Choices during all stages of its development.

Manufacturers that currently use the logo can continue to do so, Kahn said.

The FDA said it is working to define the criteria manufacturers must meet to make certain nutrition claims on product fronts. The agency plans to work with manufacturers, nutritionists and others to design a standardized system to help consumers select healthy foods.

[BeckieBest]

This is just one of many outrageous things that Bush's FDA allowed.

[tmittelstaed]

When the food manufacturers had the audacity to put "Smart Choices" on Froot Loops, that was just like waving a red hanky in front of the bull, to the FDA. It was one of the stupidest things they could have done, and pretty much ended any chance the food industry had of controlling their own rating system.
These people will never learn. Even the Motion Picture Association didn't dare to game it's own rating system when they worked it out. They aren't stupid. But the food processors are 100 times as greedy as the Motion Picture Association and 10 times stupider. These are the same people who were arguing to make ketchup a vegetable!

[BeckieBest]

FDA: Program Could Mislead Consumers about Health Benefits of Certain Foods


That's exactly what the food companies intention is.

[rondivoo]

Nobody pays any attention to these kinds of labeling. Take a gander at people's grocery basket and guess what? ... we are all buying that fast stuff... nobody cooks anymore! People buy the food they like and also it has to be easy. Why is McDonald's parking lot ALWAYS full? These "experts" are blowing in the wind. There are NO listeners.

[BeckieBest]

If no one paid any attention to this kind of misleading labeling, the food companies wouldn't waste their time and money trying to pass junk food off as healthy.

[us_1776]

Just leave it to the GREED meisters of industry to develop "smart choice" programs that do nothing more than deceive consumers.

All labeling programs need to be approved by government agencies that have fully tested all products that are submitted to have such healthy labeling.

[writer10]

it's not rocket science to stick w/ the basics of healthy eating and water intake...in fact it's cheaper to eat healthy if you take the time to actually prepare a healthy meal as opposed to buying fast food, take out and quick fixes

[Mokkie57]

Your Nuts