July 2006
Looking at labels: You asked, we answered
GOTCHA! If you're expecting the pictured berries, you're in for a surprise. The ingredients list reveals that the fruits inside are
pieces of apple.
Sixty-five percent of Americans surveyed by ACNielsen last year said they “mostly” understood nutrition information labels
on the food products they buy. That leaves plenty of room for confusion. And judging by their letters to us, plenty of Consumer Reports readers are confused. Below are answers to questions you’ve asked about food labels. For a wealth of free food-label information
from the federal government, go to www.cfsan.fda.gov.
Q A Tennessee reader questioned the “new math” for Sara Lee Heart Healthy Plus 100% Multi-Grain Bread: 80 calories for one slice, 150 for two.
A The numbers were rounded. The FDA requires that manufacturers round calories to the nearest 5-calorie multiple up to 50 calories, then to the nearest 10-calorie multiple. A representative of Sara Lee said a single slice of Heart Healthy actually has 77.05 calories.
Q Pennsylvania Dutchman Mushrooms were labeled “product of China.” A Georgia reader asks, “What gives?”
A The FDA bans geographic names except in certain cases. For example, the name is OK if it’s a trademark that has become so familiar it won’t deceive buyers, if it’s fanciful, or if it refers to a type or style of food. (“Texas toast” doesn’t always hail from the Lone Star state.)
Q Campbell’s regular Chicken Noodle Soup had even less fat than Campbell’s Healthy Request Chicken Noodle. “I was surprised,” said a Michigan reader.
A “Healthy” refers to more than fat. The FDA requires that a healthy food also be limited in sodium and cholesterol. And it must have appreciable quantities of nutrients such as protein, fiber, calcium, iron, or vitamins A or C.
Q A garlic sauce used by Domino’s Pizza contains six ingredients, none of them garlic. “Where’s the garlic?” asked a Michigan reader.
A Federal regulations state that food manufacturers are allowed to list spices and flavorings individually or lump them under “spices,” “flavor,” “natural flavor,” or “artificial flavor.” A Domino’s representative says the garlic sauce in question contains real garlic flavoring and therefore falls into the “natural flavors” section of the ingredients list.
Q Land O’ Lakes Whipped Butter went from 9 grams per tablespoon to 7 grams. “When did a tablespoon get smaller?” a New York reader asked.
A When air was added. “There was a change in incorporating more air into the product,” says a Land O’ Lakes rep, “which is reflected in the decrease in calories, fat, etc.”
Q Cherry Muffins, a list of ingredients revealed, had no cherries; Butter Sliced Creme Cake had no butter. Two readers asked whether that was legit.
A It’s not. If the cherry or butter comes from natural or artificial flavors instead of from the actual food, the labels should read “cherry flavored” and “butter flavored.” If it’s artificial, that word must appear. If the word “flavored” appears, it should be at least half as high as the main word.
Q A Tennessee reader questioned the “new math” for Sara Lee Heart Healthy Plus 100% Multi-Grain Bread: 80 calories for one slice, 150 for two.
A The numbers were rounded. The FDA requires that manufacturers round calories to the nearest 5-calorie multiple up to 50 calories, then to the nearest 10-calorie multiple. A representative of Sara Lee said a single slice of Heart Healthy actually has 77.05 calories.
Q Pennsylvania Dutchman Mushrooms were labeled “product of China.” A Georgia reader asks, “What gives?”
A The FDA bans geographic names except in certain cases. For example, the name is OK if it’s a trademark that has become so familiar it won’t deceive buyers, if it’s fanciful, or if it refers to a type or style of food. (“Texas toast” doesn’t always hail from the Lone Star state.)
Q Campbell’s regular Chicken Noodle Soup had even less fat than Campbell’s Healthy Request Chicken Noodle. “I was surprised,” said a Michigan reader.
A “Healthy” refers to more than fat. The FDA requires that a healthy food also be limited in sodium and cholesterol. And it must have appreciable quantities of nutrients such as protein, fiber, calcium, iron, or vitamins A or C.
Q A garlic sauce used by Domino’s Pizza contains six ingredients, none of them garlic. “Where’s the garlic?” asked a Michigan reader.
A Federal regulations state that food manufacturers are allowed to list spices and flavorings individually or lump them under “spices,” “flavor,” “natural flavor,” or “artificial flavor.” A Domino’s representative says the garlic sauce in question contains real garlic flavoring and therefore falls into the “natural flavors” section of the ingredients list.
Q Land O’ Lakes Whipped Butter went from 9 grams per tablespoon to 7 grams. “When did a tablespoon get smaller?” a New York reader asked.
A When air was added. “There was a change in incorporating more air into the product,” says a Land O’ Lakes rep, “which is reflected in the decrease in calories, fat, etc.”
Q Cherry Muffins, a list of ingredients revealed, had no cherries; Butter Sliced Creme Cake had no butter. Two readers asked whether that was legit.
A It’s not. If the cherry or butter comes from natural or artificial flavors instead of from the actual food, the labels should read “cherry flavored” and “butter flavored.” If it’s artificial, that word must appear. If the word “flavored” appears, it should be at least half as high as the main word.
