The FDA Wants to Fix All the Lies on Our Food Labels

Food labeling can be a bit of a mess in the United States.

Even seemingly straightforward concepts like what constitutes a "natural" food, it turns out, can have a surprisingly variable definition, one that could include, to the dismay of some, decidedly unnatural GMOs. Also consider the fact that brands are putting "GMO-Free" labels on products that don't even have genes at all. Then there is the issue of serving sizes, which don't really mean much when it comes to how much we actually put on our plates. A candy bar may seem reasonable at 160 calories per serving … until you realize that the bar contains five servings.

Other potentially misleading labeling abounds. Yes, that rice proudly labeled "Gluten-Free!" is, indeed, gluten free—because rice doesn't contain gluten in general. But some shoppers might needlessly choose the rice with the misleading label over another brand even though their product is identical.

A new proposal from Democrats in the House and Senate is hoping to clear up some of the confusion with new labeling laws. As The Hill reports, The Food Labeling Modernization Act wants to streamline food labeling by creating a standard front-of-package label required for all food products. They're also looking for new definitions for "healthy" and "natural," as they are used on food labels, and in the case of "natural," the FDA is seeking public input on what that definition should be.

"The measure is a commonsense solution to grocery store shelves that are filled with products labeled with confusing or deceptive dietary information," Senator Richard Blumenthal, one of four Democrats who introduced the bill, said in a statement. "The Food Labeling Modernization Act mandates critically important information for consumers by updating laws that have been unchanged since the 1990s. Americans deserve to know what is in the food they eat."

The legislation calls for labels that display information about added sugars, drawing the distinction between what sugars are naturally present in food and what's put in a product for added kick. It would also require labels that show percent daily values for calories and both natural and non-natural sugars.

The FDA is currently considering making calorie and serving size more prominent. Senator Blumenthal is an advocate for better labeling who also decried the recent FDA decision that allows GMO salmon to be sold in stores without being labeled as such.

Consumer advocacy groups that have been pushing for new labels are cheering The Food Labeling Modernization Act. "When 'whole grain' waffles can be made with white flour and 'all-natural' ingredients can contain synthetic high-fructose corn syrup, it's clear our food labels are due for a makeover," said Laura MacCleery, director of regulatory affairs at the Center for Science and Public Interest. The CSPI has been calling for definitions for "natural" foods for some time, along with demands such as labeling the percentage of whole grain used in a product when it claims to be "made with whole grain." In 2010, the CSPI released a report titled Food Labeling Chaos.

One recent labeling controversy occurred with Cheerios Protein. A CSPI lawsuit is alleging that the supposedly protein-rich version of Cheerios does not in fact contain any significant amount of additional protein. General Mills, for their part, says that Cheerios Protein do in fact contain 18 percent more protein that normal Cheerios, but due to labeling laws concerning serving sizes, that difference doesn't show up on the label. Speaking to MUNCHIES, General Mills said they "don't normally respond to these publicity seeking lawsuits from CSPI."

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency notes that, "'Nature,' 'natural,' 'Mother Nature,' 'Nature's Way' are terms often misused on labels and in advertisements. Labels and advertisements should not convey the impression that "Nature" has, by some miraculous process, made some foods nutritionally superior to others or has engineered some foods specially to take care of human needs." The agency notes that "natural" foods shouldn't contain added vitamins, nutrients, artificial flavors, but says that these criteria are "expectations." The European Union allows food producers to list certain aspects of a food as "natural" or "naturally occurring," but it's unclear as to what might constitute a natural food product. As the FDA notes, "From a food science perspective, it is difficult to define a food product that is 'natural' because the food has probably been processed and is no longer the product of the earth."

If you've got an opinion, it's time to let the FDA know. But in the meantime, you'll probably need to be a chemist and a detective to truly know exactly what's in your food, and you'll continue to encounter confusing or unnecessary labeling. Perhaps some labels that grab onto dietary trends may even backfire.

If you encounter salt that labels itself "GMO-free," maybe consider a brand that's less presumptive of your ignorance.