A trip to the grocery store can be overwhelming (there’s a reason we call it a chore). Even the fabled “quick” trip can turn into a harrowing, time-consuming endeavor spent vacillating between the All Natural, Gluten-Free potato chips and the Healthy, Low-Fat potato chips.
(Weren’t chips, the epitome of an “impulse buy,” supposed to be a quick and easy choice?)
In today’s grocery aisles, deciphering the marketing jargon splashed across product labels is no easy task; nearly every product boasts nutritional benefits or some other miscellaneous perk. So how can we discern fact from fluff?
Below are three labeling traps to be wary of:
All Natural
According to the FDA, no established definition exists for the label “natural” or any of its derivatives. Despite this, consumers are often misled by natural terminology into thinking a product is healthier, non-G.M.O., non-artificial, and void of preservatives. In actuality, the FDA holds this label to far lower standards than consumers do. Any product can carry “natural” on their packaging as long as there’s no added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances.
Gluten-Free
From Atkins to Paleo, consumers need little convincing to adopt the latest diet fad. Gluten-Free diets are no exception. Forbidding any gluten intolerances, other shoppers should be aware that purchasing gluten substitutes might deprive you of the vitamins, minerals, and fiber that whole grains offer, while introducing hyper-processed and sugar-heavy alternatives into your diet.
Non-G.M.O.
As opposition for the DARK Act grows, so does consumer demand for Non-G.M.O. labeled foods and overall transparency. While the debate continues, don’t leave unlabeled products on the shelves so readily; if a product isn’t one of the big-four G.M.O. offenders (soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola), the ostensibly reassuring Non-G.M.O. label can be little more than a shady marketing ploy, best taken with a grain of salt.
All in all, make sure to fully digest a product’s promises before checking it off your shopping list.
