“Smart Choices” Label Target of Connecticut Attorney General

Connecticut’s Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, is not happy with the Smart Choices front of package labeling system. He too cannot understand how such a system, designed to help consumer choose healthier foods allows Froot Loops to be considered nutritious. He wrote on Wednesday to several large food manufacturers participating in the program that he was concerned it was “overly simplistic, inaccurate and ultimately misleading.”

“As a matter of common sense, these sugar-laden or fat-saturated products seem very questionable as so-called ‘Smart Choices’ nutritionally,” Mr. Blumenthal said. “We’re ratcheting up pressure for truthful answers to these issues.”

The Connecticut investigation will seek to determine if the labeling campaign violates the state’s consumer protection law, which bars misleading or false product claims, he added. read more…

This is not surprising. In fact several other state attorneys may be joining this investigation in order to protect their constituents from marketing “fraud”.

Froot Loops, for reference, contains 3 teaspoons of added sugar, trans fat, and several different artificial colors. If there was any doubt, it contains zero fruit.

What to do at the supermarket:

Our best advice is to count “Smart Choices” as just another marketing claim, rather than objective health information. As such, simply ignore it. Always read the nutrition label and ingredients list to get the facts. When it comes to cereals, you’ll want to see a low sugar count (6 grams per serving or less) and a high fiber count (5 grams and up) from whole grains.

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