8 healthy labels and their meaning
1. Natural has no definition
High fructose corn syrup is considered “natural” despite being a chemical byproduct.
2. “Zero Trans Fats” does not mean zero
Trans fats can take advantage of a common food label loophole: if food has 0.5 grams or less of a nutrient, it can be listed as zero grams on the nutrition facts label.
3. “Made with Real Fruit” or “Contains Real Fruit Juice” has no minimum amount
One good way to check how much real fruit is used in a drink is to check the ingredients. If high fructose corn syrup is high the list, chances are the amount of actual fruit is low.
4. “Whole Grains” is not the same as 100% whole grain
5. “Fat Free/Low Fat” is sometimes attributed to products that are naturally fat-free anyway
Some products may try to trick you with a fat-free label. For example, “fat free” orange juice is redundant — oranges are fat free to begin with.
7. “Enriched” is commonly mistaken for fortified
8. “Extra Light Olive Oil” refers to color, not content
