topic Re: Food labels changing in Community Chat

Food labels changing

kdgn — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:58:34 GMT

According to an article on NBC.com, food labels are finally changing for the first time in 20 years. I won't go into detail about all the changes, but one struck me as "it's about time"!

By law, the label information on serving sizes must be based on what people actually eat, not on what they 'should' be eating," the Food and Drug Administration said in a statement.

Seriously. A pint of Ben & Jerry's shows 4 servings. Really? Who sits down to half a cup of ice cream??????

There are times when I buy frozen, ready made meals. The label says 7 servings, but the reality was it fed two adults for dinner with one lunch....

Re: Food labels changing

EmmaBunting — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:01:38 GMT

oh my gosh......this change is a long time coming! I swear.....if I buy a bag of "veggie chips" (which I delude myself into thinking are healthier because they are spray painted spinach green and carrot orange) I just look at what the calories, fat, sodium, etc are for the WHOLE bad. Because I know I will eat the whole thing! I have even tried buying the smaller "individual" serving size bags. But that is just a waste of packaging and money. I know I will eat all 6 "individual" bags in 2 days.

Sigh.

(Edited.....was going to change my obvious typo of bad to "bag".....but somehow I think the word "bad" is actually the better fit!)

Re: Food labels changing

Moonlady — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:02:16 GMT

On 2/27/2014 Marianne is complicated said:
Prediction: someone is going to be upset that the "government is telling us..."

If you finished that sentence with "...what to eat," I'd agree.

It's information, and information is a good thing to most people.

Re: Food labels changing

EmmaBunting — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:02:25 GMT

On 2/27/2014 Marianne is complicated said:
Prediction: someone is going to be upset that the ""government is telling us...""

But I like the changes.

Marianne....there is a big difference between the government ""informing"" us......and the government ""telling"" us. BIG difference....

Re: Food labels changing

Marianne1 — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:03:28 GMT

On 2/27/2014 EmmaBunting said:
On 2/27/2014 Marianne is complicated said:
Prediction: someone is going to be upset that the "government is telling us..."

But I like the changes.

Marianne....there is a big difference between the government "informing" us......and the government "telling" us. BIG difference....

I agree. I did not say it, I predicted someone will.

Re: Food labels changing

terrier3 — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:03:52 GMT

Next they need to add a column for GMO products.

Nationwide!

Re: Food labels changing

Moonlady — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:06:03 GMT

On 2/27/2014 EmmaBunting said:
oh my gosh......this change is a long time coming! I swear.....if I buy a bag of "veggie chips" (which I delude myself into thinking are healthier because they are spray painted spinach green and carrot orange) I just look at what the calories, fat, sodium, etc are for the WHOLE bad. Because I know I will eat the whole thing! I have even tried buying the smaller "individual" serving size bags. But that is just a waste of packaging and money. I know I will eat all 6 "individual" bags in 2 days.

Sigh.

(Edited.....was going to change my obvious typo of bad to "bag".....but somehow I think the word "bad" is actually the better fit!)

How about microwave popcorn? We don't eat that anymore, though the kids liked it occasionally. Ever noticed the nutritional info? Something like, "2 tbsp [of that block of grease]. Huh? Why not just put the calories in a popped bag people don't have to figure it out?

Re: Food labels changing

EmmaBunting — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:06:29 GMT

On 2/27/2014 terrier3 said:
Next they need to add a column for GMO products.

Nationwide!

Agreed. I think they are already labeling what countries products originate. I'm glad they do.

Re: Food labels changing

Qwackertoo — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:17:51 GMT

I like that it will be larger print. I hate having to dig out my cheater glasses in the grocery store. Oh how I miss my 20/20 vision.

I've been reading the labels for at least 2 decades now . . . many times I will pick something up, check the label and put it right back on the shelf.

Re: Food labels changing

brii — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:21:09 GMT

I am fine with the changes. I wish more people would think about portions and nutritional values

Re: Food labels changing

CelticCrafter — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:26:19 GMT

I've been known to sit down and eat the entire pint of Ben & Jerry's in one sitting.

Stopped buying them for that reason.

Did you see the new ones they are coming out with...they have two flavors and a center core between the two of either jam, salted caramel, nutella or peanut butter fudge.

Re: Food labels changing

boby — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:27:57 GMT

I find it hard to believe that people are so math-challenged that they couldn't tell that if they eat the whole thing the calorie intake is the per serving amount times the amount of servings already listed on the label.

Re: Food labels changing

kdgn — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:28:45 GMT

I have to laugh at some manufacturers of pouched meals. 2.5 servings. Then you open the bag and realize that one person could eat it all and you better make yourself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! 2.5 servings might be as a side dish......but not the main meal.

Disclaimer: Some pouched meals really do feed the amount of servings shown. It's just that the 'main' ingredient, say chicken, would feed one person nicely. The last one we had was a shrimp dish and the amount of shrimp was rather ridiculous. If I'd had some on hand I would have added a handful myself.

Re: Food labels changing

kdgn — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:30:42 GMT

On 2/27/2014 boby said:
I find it hard to believe that people are so math-challenged that they couldn't tell that if they eat the whole thing the calorie intake is the per serving amount times the amount of servings already listed on the label.

That's not the problem. The problem is the listings are for what "should be" and not what the reality is. Of course people understand that if you have half the pint then it's two servings. My point, and the new labeling point, is make the serving size realistic.

Re: Food labels changing

sunala — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:32:32 GMT

Erma Bombeck once said that the darkest day of her life was when she discovered that a pint of ice cream is four servings.

Sad isn't it?

Re: Food labels changing

NoelSeven — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:32:56 GMT

I saw a visual of before and after and I like it! It makes much more sense the new way, plus they're getting rid of info that's unnecessary.

Re: Food labels changing

EmmaBunting — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:33:32 GMT

On 2/27/2014 sunala said:
Erma Bombeck once said that the darkest day of her life was when she discovered that a pint of ice cream is four servings.

Sad isn't it?

Well....it IS 4 servings for ME. Of course.....I DO eat those 4 servings one right after the other.......

Re: Food labels changing

kdgn — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:34:26 GMT

On 2/27/2014 sunala said:
Erma Bombeck once said that the darkest day of her life was when she discovered that a pint of ice cream is four servings.

Sad isn't it?

Have you seen the teeny, tiny little cups of ice cream in the freezer section? Maybe 99 cents or $1? Being given just one of those would be enough to tick me off no end!! They're toddler size.

Re: Food labels changing

EmmaBunting — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:37:29 GMT

On 2/27/2014 kdgn said:
On 2/27/2014 sunala said:
Erma Bombeck once said that the darkest day of her life was when she discovered that a pint of ice cream is four servings.

Sad isn't it?

Have you seen the teeny, tiny little cups of ice cream in the freezer section? Maybe 99 cents or $1? Being given just one of those would be enough to tick me off no end!! They're toddler size.

actually......if I buy the WW ones....they're enough to satisfy me. But that's probably because they REALLY aren't all that good.......lol

Re: Food labels changing

NoelSeven — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:43:03 GMT

From Think Progress:

"But we’re still a few years off from actually putting it in place. The FDA will solicit comments about its two different proposed labels during a 90-day public comment period. Then, the government agency will work to draw up the final rules. After the rule is finalized, food manufacturers will have an additional two years to bring their labels in line with it.

The process could stretch out longer if there’s a protracted fight over the proposed regulation. There are already some signs that food and beverage groups will be resistant to new labels."