A number of laws passed over the past few decades require food manufacturers to provide specific labeling for products regulated by the FDA. This includes disclosing the amount of trans fat and saturated fat, as well as nutritional value per serving.
However, despite these requirements, it’s still easy to gloss over food contents and be misled by claims if you’re not careful. There are a lot of buzzwords in the industry that might lead you to believe you’re making the healthiest choices, but you might not see the whole picture. Read on to learn what to be wary of on food labels…
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Reconsider ‘Organic’
This buzzword might have you feeling better about your food purchase, as you are led to believe that you’re doing some good for yourself and the earth. However, while that may be true, there’s no real evidence to show that organic foods are “nutritionally superior,” notes Real Simple. Also, the products only need to be 95-percent organic to make the claim, it adds.
However, it is true that foods labeled as organic are usually made without the aid of pesticides and synthetic hormones, and are not typically genetically engineered, adds the source. Keep in mind that organic products can cost upwards of 50-percent more than their non-organic counterparts to help you weigh your options.