Naturally Artificial
Walk down any grocery store food aisle and grab a random package off the shelf. It is most likely covered with marketing slogans and claims like low fat, heart healthy, or perhaps all natural, which to me, is one of the most misleading marketing claims of all. What does it mean? It turns out, very little.
The natural or all natural claim can be found on a variety of different products. It appears to be a very successful marketing claim. Over $40 billion worth of food items are sold each year with these label claims on them. Some believe these claims are similar to or even better than organic certification. Nothing could be farther from the truth. While organic certification requires inspections and audits, food manufacturers need no such scrutiny to use the natural or all natural claims. There are no government oversight groups. There isn't even an industry standard definition.
The FDA is in charge of oversight of the use of marketing slogans on food packaging, certainly a difficult task. Unfortunately, despite significant use of the natural or all natural label claims, the group has not defined these terms to standardize their use. The FDA has said it has no problem with these claims if the food products refrain from using food coloring, artificial flavors, or any synthetic additive.
In theory, that sounds like a decently healthy standard. However, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), plants and minerals with high metal content, and more can be used in natural foods. Unfortunately, without a true definition, oversight, or a verification process, it is difficult to put much faith in the natural claim if any producer can put it on its packaging with no consequences. Not to mention, any definition that claims something is natural while accepting GMOs as such carries no weight in my mind.
The FDA's lack of clarity on this issue has given companies free reign to use these claims as they see fit, something that has proven to be a significant problem. I've run out of fingers counting the number of scandals the food industry has been apart of. The FDA's ambivalence on the natural and all natural claims is frustrating and needs to change. Oversight of these claims is necessary.
The good news is that consumers and advocacy groups are waking up to the lack of oversight and taking matters into their own hands. We need to hold these companies accountable. There have been some significant lawsuits against food manufacturers and grocery store chains. I think this trend will only grow. We are finally becoming aware that these companies do not have our best interests in mind, but their own. Profits.
I recommend always reading the ingredients list rather than the marketing claims. The fewer ingredients, the better. Also, if you don't need your chemistry book to figure out what the ingredient is, that's a good sign as well. I urge you to do your homework to understand what's in our food supply and the dangers of some ingredients. Currently, it's on us to police these food companies because the government is asleep at the table.
The natural or all natural claim can be found on a variety of different products. It appears to be a very successful marketing claim. Over $40 billion worth of food items are sold each year with these label claims on them. Some believe these claims are similar to or even better than organic certification. Nothing could be farther from the truth. While organic certification requires inspections and audits, food manufacturers need no such scrutiny to use the natural or all natural claims. There are no government oversight groups. There isn't even an industry standard definition.
The FDA is in charge of oversight of the use of marketing slogans on food packaging, certainly a difficult task. Unfortunately, despite significant use of the natural or all natural label claims, the group has not defined these terms to standardize their use. The FDA has said it has no problem with these claims if the food products refrain from using food coloring, artificial flavors, or any synthetic additive.
In theory, that sounds like a decently healthy standard. However, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), plants and minerals with high metal content, and more can be used in natural foods. Unfortunately, without a true definition, oversight, or a verification process, it is difficult to put much faith in the natural claim if any producer can put it on its packaging with no consequences. Not to mention, any definition that claims something is natural while accepting GMOs as such carries no weight in my mind.
The FDA's lack of clarity on this issue has given companies free reign to use these claims as they see fit, something that has proven to be a significant problem. I've run out of fingers counting the number of scandals the food industry has been apart of. The FDA's ambivalence on the natural and all natural claims is frustrating and needs to change. Oversight of these claims is necessary.
The good news is that consumers and advocacy groups are waking up to the lack of oversight and taking matters into their own hands. We need to hold these companies accountable. There have been some significant lawsuits against food manufacturers and grocery store chains. I think this trend will only grow. We are finally becoming aware that these companies do not have our best interests in mind, but their own. Profits.
I recommend always reading the ingredients list rather than the marketing claims. The fewer ingredients, the better. Also, if you don't need your chemistry book to figure out what the ingredient is, that's a good sign as well. I urge you to do your homework to understand what's in our food supply and the dangers of some ingredients. Currently, it's on us to police these food companies because the government is asleep at the table.
About the Author:
Be sure to check out my website for more information at FDA food label guidelines or my blog at dangers of food additives preservatives. Thank you and be well!