‘Smart Choices’ Food Labels are Coming in 2009
In an effort to help increase the sales of healthier food (and hopefully combat the double-edged organic food craze), nonprofit Keystone Group has coordinated a program called the “Smart Choice Program.” Participation is not mandatory as food companies are free to choose whether or not they take part.
The Smart Choice label will only appear on those that meet the nutritional standards based on a set criteria.
First, they can’t have too much of nutrients that should be limited. For instance: total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesteral, added sugars and sodium.
Second, they must either have nutrients such as: calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E. Or include the following food groups: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy.
The label will also include information on the calories per serving next to the number of servings per container.
There are many companies that have pledged their likely participation in the Smart Choices Program.
Coca-Cola, ConAgra Foods, General Mills, Kellogg, Kraft Foods, Nestle, Pepsico, Unilever U.S., and Wal-Mart are the known participants as of this writing.
Look for the labels to start showing up sometime in mid-2009.
-via WebMD
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This is a bad policy. Industry wants to self-promote with yet-another-icon (there are already 25 different icons promoting food quality). It is an effort by industry to preempt the FDA from setting actual comparative guidelines so that one food can be prepared to another.
Also, industry funding creates an inherent conflict of interest for the administration of the program. If the program standards were too high or burdensome, then food companies would drop out.
This is good PR, but it is bad policy.
Read my blogposts at: http://www.foodrecalls.blogspot.com