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22.5: Realities of Nutrition Labeling

  • Page ID
    60538
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    When labeling was voluntary for a food product, nutrition information wasn’t expected, unless it helped sell the product. Thus voluntary labeling appeared most often on such “nutritious” foods as bread and canned fruits and vegetables.

    But there were some surprises—surprises to nutritionists, anyway. Nutrition labeling started appearing voluntarily on such foods as potato chips and cookies. Fig Newtons, one can understand, but Oreos?

    The food makers realized that nutrition labeling might not affect the popularity of Oreos. One’s mind is usually made up before the package is taken from the market shelf. Oreo buyers probably don’t read labels carefully. Even if they ordinarily do and are generally concerned about nutrition, one expects that if they want their Oreo fix, they wouldn’t look in this instance. The nutrition information might spoil their pleasure.


    This page titled 22.5: Realities of Nutrition Labeling is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Judi S. Morrill.

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