What's the Scoop on Foods without Nutrition Labels?

     The vast majority of the foods Americans eat are required by law to have a nutrition label. Some foods however do not. Here are the details on the National Labeling and Education Act:

     Foods that do not require a food label include:

• Food that is served for immediate consumption, such as vending machines, food courts, and hospital cafeterias (although this is likely changing with menu labeling laws)
• Ready-to-eat food that is not for immediate consumption, but is prepared on site, such as bakeries, delis, and candy stores.
• Foods that do not contain a significant amount of nutrients, such as coffee, tea, and some spices.
• Foods for patients with special nutrient needs.
• Food produced by businesses that meet certain criteria may be exempt unless they make a health claim.

      Currently many restaurants do not have nutrition information immediately available but do provide this information upon request, on their website, or elsewhere in the restaurant, such as on the back of the placement in fast food restaurants.    

     If you are curious about the calorie and/or nutrient content of some of the foods you are eating that do not have labels you can use a website such as Calorie King (http://www.calorieking.com/) or make comparisons to other similar foods. Beware, however, that just because two foods are similar does not mean their nutrition content is the same!

Cheers,
Brittney

How Accurate is Posted Calorie Information?

     A study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association revealed that calorie information on some food products may be inaccurate. Researchers measured calorie content of 29 restaurant foods and compared them to the calorie information provided by the vendors. Three criteria the selected food items had to meet were: less than 500 calories per serving as stated on the label, typical American foods, and be lower in calorie content than most of the other foods on the menu.

     The food items averaged at 18% more calories than stated on the label! Some of the discrepancies were very wide, spanning up to twice their declared calorie content! The food items tested in the study were from chain restaurants, fast-food and sit-down, with nation-wide distribution. In 5 of the 29 restaurants, side dishes served with the item tested had higher calorie level than the item itself!

     The researchers concluded that based on the study, a wide range of food labels from restaurants and supermarkets may be inaccurate, most frequently exceeding the calorie value posted. This is a problem when it comes to a person's effort to self monitor energy intake. It could reduce the benefit of requiring restaurants to post calorie information on menus.

Cheers,
Brittney

New My Plate Icon and Guidelines

     I'm sure by now you have heard of or seen the USDA's new My Plate icon as the next generation My Pyramid. The what and how much of My Pyramid has not changed, but the format is simpler to understand, and easier to put into practice for many people. The new My Plate allows people to see exactly how their plates should look at most meals. While My Pyramid may have left many people confused by its use of the term "servings", My Plate gives a visual that is much more user friendly. Here is a look at the new My Plate icon:

   
     The idea is to model your plate around this icon at each of your meals. This is helpful in making sure you meet the recommendations for each food group on a daily basis.

     The guidelines for eating that USDA recommends to go along with the new icon are easy to understand and use as well:

Balancing Calories:

•      Enjoy your food, but eat less
•      Avoid over-sized portions

Foods to Increase:

•      Make half our plate fruits and vegetables
•      Make at least half your grains whole grains
•      Switch to fat free (skim) or low-fat (1%) milk

Food to Decrease:

•      Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals - and choose foods with lower numbers
•      Drink water instead of sugary drinks (see http://nutritionall-rd.blogspot.com/2011/08/sugar-content-of-common-beverages.html for more information about how much sugar is in common beverages).

     Try to use the My Plate icon as a guideline for you and your family's eating pattern. Adherence to these guidelines is linked to better healthy including: heart health, weight loss, and less cancer!

For more information on the new My Plate format of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, visit: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/. The website has a lot of information on how to use the new icon, a Tip of the Day segment, and details on the dietary guidelines for specific groups such as children and pregnant women.

Cheers,
Brittney

What Does it Really Mean When Food is Labeled "Natural"?

      Have you ever wondered what the definition of the term "natural" is in regards to food labeling? When you are choosing between several different brands of a food at the grocery store, are you more likely to purchase one that is labeled as "all natural"?
     The term "natural" was identified by the Mintel Global New Products Database as the most common claim on food and beverage labels in 2008. However, the term is not officially defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In 1993 the FDA issued a policy stating that it "has not objected to the use of the term on food labels provided it is used in a manner that is truthful and not misleading and the product does not contain added color, artificial flavors or synthetic substances".
     So this must mean that the food is in its natural form right? Not necessarily! A food that is labeled as natural could be processed, have added salt or other ingredients that not originally part of the food itself. For example, based on this guideline a food cannot have any added artificial ingredients, but it can have added natural ingredients. Some foods have dyes or flavorings that are considered "natural" because they come from other plant or animal sources, such as insects!
     The label "natural" can be very misleading, so don't necessarily assume that just because something is labeled as "natural" that it is healthy! The best foods for you are foods that are not processed or altered such as fresh produce and grains, whole meats, and organic dairy!
     The USDA is currently working to define the term natural in regards to food labeling.

Cheers,
Brittney