Should the FDA Ban Grocery Store Labels That Claim to Rank Foods' Nutritional Value?

The FDA finds "little evidence" that grocery store claims are valid, but all it wants to do is study the issue more. Is that right?

May 7, 2009 at 6:46AM by Marion Nestle | comment

Confronted with the proliferation of symbols on food labels ostensibly designed to alert customers to “better choices” of packaged foods (see my previous posts on this topic), the FDA held a hearing. It has now followed up with a memo (pdf) on what it plans to do about them. The agency posed many sensible questions about the criteria, use, and interpretation of such symbols at the hearing, but heard "little evidence." The FDA wants more research before deciding what to do.

Fine, but in the meantime how about a moratorium on the use of all such symbols? Just asking.

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tags: food, nutrition, FDA, food labels

Marion Nestle

Noted author Marion Nestle is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University. She is the author of What to Eat.
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