Seriously.
The labeling on this product is unbelievable. What's in a name, anyway?
Large sections in grocery store isles are full of products like these. Healthy Choice is not called Healthy Choice because some wise entity has determined these products to be healthy. They are called Healthy Choice because somebody, somewhere knew that IF they were called something that led consumers to believe they WERE healthy, consumers would buy them. It's kind of like the name that a certain golden-imaged fast food chain trademarked for the product that they placed between their buns... "100% REAL Beef." They could have trademarked the name "Fred" for it, because after all, the chain was not stating that what they served was "real beef," or that their "real beef" was something that contained the parts of the animal that you or I would call "beef," rather, that they were naming what they served "100% REAL Beef."
The soup above is a prime example of this funny style of message shaping. The little heart-shaped icon in the upper right-hand side of the package front looks similar to the one "used" (i.e.: sold) by the American Heart Association to designate that particular processed foods have met a (fairly loose) criteria for being "heart-healthy" (common translation: it won't do too much damage...).
The heart on the Healthy Choice soup is one created by ConAgra Foods, Inc. - the company that makes Healthy Choice products, but it sure looks official at first glance, doesn't it? Note the little tiny asterisk (*) beside "Heart Healthy." Looking carefully at the package reveals a little tiny message in little tiny font (maybe a .5?) that states: "While many factors affect heart disease, diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of this disease." While that may be true, there's more to the heart disease story.
Below the ConAgra logo, it states that this soup is only 110 calories only contains 390 mg of sodium. Sodium is a HUGE factor in the development of heart disease. Many Americans consume way more than the 2400 mg that is currently recommended as the maximum daily limit for a healthy diet for a person younger than 50 years old, who is not overweight, or in otherwise poor health. The ideal threshold for safeguarding your heart-health, according to Michael Jacobson (the guy who lead the movement to get those nutrition information labels on our food products in the first place, back in the late 1980's) is 1500 mg/day. He and other researchers, including Walter Willet of Harvard's School of Public Health believe that if this 1500/mg threshold were the "norm" - and therefore, food companies were forced to lower their sodium amounts in the foods they process - more than 150,000 lives could be saved every year that are otherwise lost to heart disease (which is the #1 killer of Americans).
SO, here's ConAgra's reassuring "Heart Healthy" icon on this soup - this soup that comes in a handy-dandy microwavable dish that allows you to heat up your lunch in the break room microwave and enjoy it at your desk... only, when you turn the package over
... you can see that those guys at ConAgra don't really intend for you to eat the whole bowl of soup that you've just heated up at work all by yourself ... they are thinking you will probably share it with your co-worker at the next desk, because this is actually considered two servings of soup. You see, one serving of soup contains 390 mg of sodium. If you ate the entire bowl, you'd be consuming nearly 800 mg of sodium - which is way more than anyone should probably consume in one meal if they are concerned about the health of their heart... and of course, ConAgra knows this, that's why they've divided up this bowl of soup into servings for two people.
Tricky, huh?
It pays to read beyond the front label on food packaging. Don't be tricked by the little icons and promises that attempt to lure you by creating an image that a food is healthy. Turn it over and read the back. Keep in mind that serving sizes are often adjusted on the BACK of a package to make their calorie-count and other key items like fat, sugar and sodium appear much more "palatable" than they may actually be.
American Heart Association check mark from: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
All other photographs were taken by the author
We bought a healthy cookie the other day and were surprised to see that even a healthy cookie can be packaged deceptively - this single cookie actually listed 2 servings for the single cookie.
ReplyDeleteLis
YES! You HAVE GOT to read those nutrition info labels!
ReplyDeleteGreat information. As a mother, i find the sugary cereal labels to be extremely deceptive as well...stating 100% whole grain, x # of vitamins and minerals etc. This can makeu a quick shopping trip with a toddler quite difficult! Thanks andso keep the info. coming!!
ReplyDeleteWe have a right to know what we're purchasing to feed our families. Truth transparency and accountability is all I ask.
ReplyDeleteI have been using myfitnesspal app and have been more aware of what I have been putting into my body. That has led to changes not only in the amount of food but what type of foods and their nutritional content. There are a number of items that one would assume are a single serving but when evaluating the nutritional facts you learn that it isn't a single serving but mutiple servings.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, you are the only one looking out for you in the grocery isles. You have got to be a wise consumer!
ReplyDeleteI have learned we have to read labels. The companies want sales and will to about anything to get them. I remember once time, while I was avoiding sugar, looking for a low fat salad dressing – I could not find one without sugar, seems if something is taken out, many things are added to make it taste good - what did I learn? — Make your own. Thanks for the sodium recommendations in the article.
ReplyDelete150,000 lives? Unbelievable. I've been watching my carbs, so I've been label-cruising lately - and it really is amazing what vendors do to the servings to make the first-glance numbers look good. Disheartening to know that they are willing to do that to deceive to sell. Where's the responsibility?
ReplyDeleteTruly a pet peeve of mine as well. Thanks for reminding us to not trust the big claims on the front, but to read the little truths on the back.
ReplyDeleteWith my (new-ish) vegan, gluten-free lifestyle, we have cut the processed foods to a minimum. My kids LOVE soups for lunch - and with 2 kids, the soup gets heated, divided, and thermos-ed. Since almost everything else is purchased in its raw form & processed in my kitchen, I don't stress too much about sodium content for this meal. I don't salt anything on the stove. Even so, I read read read the labels for hidden ingredients. It takes all KINDS of time and focus, so I leave the kids home and take the time needed to make the best possible choices...and it's a great way to know when my bifocals need to be replaced!
ReplyDeleteA great example of unethical does not mean illegal. I wonder where in the advertising ladder that the consumers can gather together to demand the real truth? Its not like trying to decide which table to buy. This is our food!
ReplyDeleteSeriously...? It's not REAL beef on those sesame-seed buns...?
ReplyDeleteI had to take my lunch to work for a long time, and I have been baffled by the fact that these "single" meals are meant for more than one person/meal. It's the same with just about every snack food out there, from popcorn to chocolate kisses. One serving is not what we have been trained to recognize. One serving is naturally super-sized; right? NO!
It amazes me that these companies have a blatant disregard for the lack of mindful labeling. Individuals who are Sodium sensitive may have spike in blood pressure if they regularly consume above the RDA of Sodium. Some physician are recommending that 1500 mg is the new RDA for Sodium. Of course, as you stated, Sodium can be a factor contributing to heart disease as well as stroke if blood pressure level continue to stay elevated if left untreated. Bottom-line, It is totally disingenuous to label nutrition labels on this so called healthy product.
ReplyDeleteYes you better read your labels. Buy fresh local grown organic veggies and make your own soup. Better and much cheaper.
ReplyDeleteAnother trick is the word 'natural' with meat...there are no laws defining who can use the word 'natural', they charge more for it and place it next to the organic stuff, but there is nobody regulating whether it is any different from the hormone and anti-biotic laced meat...organic is the only regulated term...grrr...
ReplyDeleteI think it is very tricky. Even a doctor may lead you to things that are not truly heart healthy. Who is to be trusted?
ReplyDeleteThat's why you've got to read the labels! Doctors are usually following the advice of whatever savvy marketing has reached their desks from their buddies at Kraft and ConAgra...Or from their referring dietitians who have on-going training funded by the Dairy Council, the Cattle Ranchers and (yes) Coca-Cola, and others...
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