Building off of last week’s post about the “Health Halo” we are diving deeper into how the food industry uses buzzwords and misleading marketing to sell their products to health conscious consumers. This is not a comprehensive list of words and phrases but it gives some good examples of things to look out for.

Firstly, the food industry does NOT have a responsibility to be honest with consumers or concerned with public health. Their sole responsibility is to their shareholders. With that in mind, it is up to us as consumers to make sure we are making good choices. That means doing some extra “detective” work and reading food labels more closely. 

Here are some catchy phrases and buzzwords often put on the front of packaging to allude to the food product being a “healthier option” than its alternatives: 

“No Sugar Added” - this doesn’t mean there is zero sugar or that sugar doesn’t get added in a different way. Often it will get added in the form of concentrated fruit purées and juices.

“Whole Grain” - products put this on their label to make us think that it is the healthy option. But what is the opposite of whole grains really?

“Contains Fiber” - it doesn’t have to say the source of the fiber and they are not all equal. Fiber from whole grain is different from fiber being added to pulverized flour.

Serving sizes - when checking the food label make sure you check the serving size. A lot of times the serving will be ridiculously small, like 3 crackers.

“Snack Size” - beware of words like snack size making us think that it is somehow smaller or has fewer calories.

“DHA added” or “Omega-3” - Often the foods that advertise having any amount of DHA or Omega-3 only have trace amounts and you would need to consume a ridiculous quantity to equal the amount in a partial serving of salmon.

“Organic” ≠ “Healthy” - the word “organic” is simply an indicator for the type of agricultural practices used, specifically no use of synthetic fertilizers. But these labels can also be misleading. Just because something has the word “organic” on the label, does not necessarily mean it is 100% organic. It can range from 70-95% organic and still be able to use that word. Organic potato chips are still potato chips, it doesn’t mean they are magically healthier.

What other misleading marketing terms have you noticed?

5/18/22

WOD

Every 1:30 for 10 sets:
Deadlift, 1-3 reps

9 minute AMRAP of:
12 Single DB Devil's Press
15 DB Box Step-ups, 24"/20"

*Use a single 50/35-lb. DB for both movements.