Figuring Out Food Labels
Some food labels are designed to inform consumers. Others are meant to confuse and seduce. Here's a guide to deciphering the most common packaged-food labeling systems used in the U.S. and in other countries, as well as proposed changes to the familiar Nutrition Facts panel.
What It Is: A voluntary system in the Netherlands developed by the food industry and endorsed by the Dutch government. Products that earn a Healthy Choice label have limited amounts of fats, sugar and sodium.
Pros: Different symbols distinguish natural and processed foods, and the system does not take into account fortification, so producers "can't increase their rating by just adding vitamins and minerals to the food," says Jacob Seidell, the program's chief.
Cons: There are relatively few studies of consumer use that test the efficacy of the system.
See a special report on the science of appetite.
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