Comments on: Let’s get rid of front-of-package labels! http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/02/lets-get-rid-of-front-of-package-labels/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:20:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Food industry FAIL: Foods promoted as healthy for kids—surprise!—are :Food for Thought http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/02/lets-get-rid-of-front-of-package-labels/comment-page-1/#comment-53844 Food industry FAIL: Foods promoted as healthy for kids—surprise!—are :Food for Thought Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:20:25 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=2282#comment-53844 [...] Nestle, an expert on these matters, has come to believe that the process is hopelessly flawed and the FDA should simply ban front-of-package health labels of any kind. And given the weak-kneed fainting spells so common in the halls of the FDA whenever [...] [...] Nestle, an expert on these matters, has come to believe that the process is hopelessly flawed and the FDA should simply ban front-of-package health labels of any kind. And given the weak-kneed fainting spells so common in the halls of the FDA whenever [...]

]]> By: Majestic Aromas: Food industry FAIL: Foods promoted as healthy for kids are mostly not. | MajesticAromas.com http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/02/lets-get-rid-of-front-of-package-labels/comment-page-1/#comment-52754 Majestic Aromas: Food industry FAIL: Foods promoted as healthy for kids are mostly not. | MajesticAromas.com Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:12:30 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=2282#comment-52754 [...] Nestle, an expert on these matters, has come to believe that the process is hopelessly flawed and the FDA should simply ban front-of-package health labels of any kind. And given the weak-kneed fainting spells so common in the halls of the FDA whenever [...] [...] Nestle, an expert on these matters, has come to believe that the process is hopelessly flawed and the FDA should simply ban front-of-package health labels of any kind. And given the weak-kneed fainting spells so common in the halls of the FDA whenever [...]

]]> By: Better Parenting: Foods promoted as healthy for kids—surprise—are mostly not « Green Bandwagon http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/02/lets-get-rid-of-front-of-package-labels/comment-page-1/#comment-51972 Better Parenting: Foods promoted as healthy for kids—surprise—are mostly not « Green Bandwagon Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:00:30 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=2282#comment-51972 [...] Nestle, an expert on these matters, has come to believe that the process is hopelessly flawed and the FDA should simply ban front-of-package health labels of any kind. And given the weak-kneed fainting spells so common in the halls of the FDA whenever [...] [...] Nestle, an expert on these matters, has come to believe that the process is hopelessly flawed and the FDA should simply ban front-of-package health labels of any kind. And given the weak-kneed fainting spells so common in the halls of the FDA whenever [...]

]]> By: Food Politics: Jan. 19, 2011 « Speaker's Corner http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/02/lets-get-rid-of-front-of-package-labels/comment-page-1/#comment-51968 Food Politics: Jan. 19, 2011 « Speaker's Corner Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:29:15 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=2282#comment-51968 [...] As I keep saying, alas, front-of-package labels, like health claims, are about marketing, not health. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)In Texas, Be a Man [...] [...] As I keep saying, alas, front-of-package labels, like health claims, are about marketing, not health. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)In Texas, Be a Man [...]

]]> By: Five for Fridays - Mar 5, 2010 | LittleStomaks http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/02/lets-get-rid-of-front-of-package-labels/comment-page-1/#comment-35845 Five for Fridays - Mar 5, 2010 | LittleStomaks Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:03:36 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=2282#comment-35845 [...] according to some, are getting out of control these days. There are some, including the prominent Marion Nestle, who are suggesting an outright ban on these front-of-box [...] [...] according to some, are getting out of control these days. There are some, including the prominent Marion Nestle, who are suggesting an outright ban on these front-of-box [...]

]]> By: The front-of-package labelling debate: A contrarian perspective based on Gresham-Akerlof’s Law | Canadian Agri Food http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/02/lets-get-rid-of-front-of-package-labels/comment-page-1/#comment-35803 The front-of-package labelling debate: A contrarian perspective based on Gresham-Akerlof’s Law | Canadian Agri Food Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:21:52 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=2282#comment-35803 [...] position on food and health claims.  (Here’s the link to the JAMA piece.  You can find the original blog post here and some LA Times commentary here.)  I’m going to sketch out this perspective and then present [...] [...] position on food and health claims.  (Here’s the link to the JAMA piece.  You can find the original blog post here and some LA Times commentary here.)  I’m going to sketch out this perspective and then present [...]

]]> By: edSanDiego http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/02/lets-get-rid-of-front-of-package-labels/comment-page-1/#comment-35720 edSanDiego Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:44:53 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=2282#comment-35720 Judge Robert Sweet in the McDonalds obesity case filed in NY around 2002/03 said that "It is not the place of the law to protect them against their own excesses" when handing down judgment on obese kids that claimed McDonalds made them eat too much. The claimants alleged that McDonald's violated New York State's consumer fraud statutes by deliberately misleading consumers into thinking their products were healthy and nutritious. The First Amendment is a tough nut to crack on this one and the cases already brought to court give food producers a strong hand. This is not as easy as the tobacco cases and that product was proven to have no health benefits and caused harm. Enticement or invitation to treat is not a crime provided the buyer and seller operate within the law. As long as the FDA allows products to be sold on the shelf, the supermarkets stock the product, manufacturers tell consumers what's in the product (the labels on the back) and consumers buy the product then this issue might just end up in the Supreme Court. As a strong advocate for front of pack labels it seems that heading down a path that will force producers to be less effective at selling their product will be an uphill battle as long as there is hyper competition in the market place for consumer dollars. And the food business is highly competitive. That's why more ethical National supermarkets wont stop selling tobacco - customers just go and shop somewhere else that does sell cigarettes. But thats okay, its a worthy fight to have and constant pressure needs to be maintained. Well done. Judge Robert Sweet in the McDonalds obesity case filed in NY around 2002/03 said that “It is not the place of the law to protect them against their own excesses” when handing down judgment on obese kids that claimed McDonalds made them eat too much.

The claimants alleged that McDonald’s violated New York State’s consumer fraud statutes by deliberately misleading consumers into thinking their products were healthy and nutritious.

The First Amendment is a tough nut to crack on this one and the cases already brought to court give food producers a strong hand. This is not as easy as the tobacco cases and that product was proven to have no health benefits and caused harm.

Enticement or invitation to treat is not a crime provided the buyer and seller operate within the law. As long as the FDA allows products to be sold on the shelf, the supermarkets stock the product, manufacturers tell consumers what’s in the product (the labels on the back) and consumers buy the product then this issue might just end up in the Supreme Court.

As a strong advocate for front of pack labels it seems that heading down a path that will force producers to be less effective at selling their product will be an uphill battle as long as there is hyper competition in the market place for consumer dollars. And the food business is highly competitive. That’s why more ethical National supermarkets wont stop selling tobacco – customers just go and shop somewhere else that does sell cigarettes.

But thats okay, its a worthy fight to have and constant pressure needs to be maintained. Well done.

]]> By: Gesa Maschkowski http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/02/lets-get-rid-of-front-of-package-labels/comment-page-1/#comment-35719 Gesa Maschkowski Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:05:26 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=2282#comment-35719 Thank you for this wonderful statement. Since two years I write about the German and the European debate relating nutrition labelling. This ist my conclusion: - Nutrition labelling, especially FOP is just Marketing. MC-Donalds Germany for example has introduced intensive Nutrition Labelling and sales keep rising. Another German manufacturer of frozen food introduced traffic-light labelling and increased its turnover. - Manufacturer and retail is not interested in clear, easy and uniform labelling, everyone is fighting for his own system. The only progress I noted is, that studies and arguments become better. Its a pity! Thank you for this wonderful statement. Since two years I write about the German and the European debate relating nutrition labelling. This ist my conclusion:
- Nutrition labelling, especially FOP is just Marketing. MC-Donalds Germany for example has introduced intensive Nutrition Labelling and sales keep rising. Another German manufacturer of frozen food introduced traffic-light labelling and increased its turnover.
- Manufacturer and retail is not interested in clear, easy and uniform labelling, everyone is fighting for his own system. The only progress I noted is, that studies and arguments become better.
Its a pity!

]]> By: Sargis Dallakyan http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/02/lets-get-rid-of-front-of-package-labels/comment-page-1/#comment-35716 Sargis Dallakyan Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:27:26 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=2282#comment-35716 Thanks for a very interesting article. I agree with most of the comments. Nutrition facts alone won't be enough. As @Karyn suggested having proper names of all ingredients would be useful. However, there are also challenges with proper naming as well as mentioned in this NIH videocast: "Technical and Regulatory Challenges to Biomedical Research on Dietary Supplements." http://videocast.nih.gov/Summary.asp?File=15531 Thanks for a very interesting article. I agree with most of the comments. Nutrition facts alone won’t be enough. As @Karyn suggested having proper names of all ingredients would be useful. However, there are also challenges with proper naming as well as mentioned in this NIH videocast: “Technical and Regulatory Challenges to Biomedical Research on Dietary Supplements.” http://videocast.nih.gov/Summary.asp?File=15531

]]> By: Anthro http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/02/lets-get-rid-of-front-of-package-labels/comment-page-1/#comment-35715 Anthro Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:59:16 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=2282#comment-35715 Thanks Marion--I feel a bit dim! Who knew? Thanks Marion–I feel a bit dim! Who knew?

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