If you’ve ever picked up a bottled drink or a packaged food item, you’ve probably noticed a label on the front of the item touting its protein or vitamin content. But what you don’t see is any mention of less-than-healthy ingredients — such as added sugar or saturated fat — until you look at the nutrition facts on the back of the item.
And, if you’re like most Americans, chances are pretty good you’re not getting to the fine print. Less than one-third of people report that they frequently read the nutrition label, according to a 2018 study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Now, there’s a new petition going around that’s aimed at bringing that information to the public’s attention and changing the practice of highlighting only the good while ignoring the less-than-healthy aspects. Kind, a company best known for its granola bars, partnered with public health experts to file a citizen’s petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration so consumers could be better informed about what’s in the foods and drinks they’re buying.
“Dressing up empty calorie products by emphasizing a singular nutrient, like protein or fiber, versus the overall quality of the food is unfair to consumers,” Kind Founder and CEO Daniel Lubetzky said in a press release. “By bringing greater rigor to the use of nutrient claims, FDA can increase label transparency and help people better identify foods that contribute to a healthy diet, which KIND has long advocated for.”
He went on…
