FDA Cracks Down on Misleading Food Labels

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Lolita Carrico

The FDA has threatened to start removing products with ‘misleading’ labels from shelves if 17 food manufacturers don’t fix the packaging which make “misleading ‘healthy’ claims that continue to appear on foods that do not meet the long- and well-established definition for use of that term,” an FDA official said.

The products, which range from ice cream, to frozen fish sticks, to baby foods, all “were identified [to make] nutrient content claims about one nutrient, such as trans fats, but failed to identify other nutrients, such as saturated fat, which were present in the products at very high levels.”

“The companies try to get around the rules by using vague terminology such as ‘helps support your immune system’ or ‘heart healthy.’ These claims are not reviewed by the FDA and are confusing customers,” the FDA rep said.

To see the full list of products deemed misleading – visit the FDA website.