Where Do We Draw The Line?
The FDA has decided, in it’s infinite wisdom, that not enough people are reading the nutritional information printed on the back of food packages. They think if food manufacturers were required to place symbols on the front of their packaging, more people would pay attention to what they eat and less people would be overweight.
If an increasingly overweight America’s eyes are bigger than its stomach, then placing more nutritional information in plain sight could allow shoppers to see their way to more healthy choices while scanning food labels.
That’s an idea being considered by the Food and Drug Administration as it examines whether symbols added to the front of food packages could convey nutrition information in a clear and concise way — without forcing shoppers to pore over the small print usually relegated to the back of the box, bag or can.
If people were concerned with what they were eating, they would be reading the labels on the back of the packages. How much clearer do they need to make it? Maybe neon signs with flashing red lights and a nice little electric shock would send the proper signal that maybe, just maybe,those snack cakes are not such a good idea after a double quarter pounder, fries and a shake
I must admit, however, it would be nice if the existing labels actually told you more about what’s really inside the package, not just the vitamin and mineral levels. Then again, the same people those symbols are targetted at won’t read the extended information either, will they?
2 Comments so far
insignificant thoughts » Information Salad #58: Don’t Block That Ad! on September 15, 2007 comments:
[...] The FDA is going a bit too far, don’t you think? [...]
Information Salad #58: Don’t Block That Ad! : ISPN Media on September 15, 2007 comments:
[...] The FDA is going a bit too far, don’t you think? [...]