Mar 11, 2014 – New Label

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Health newsfeed for Tuesday, March 11, 2014

ANCHOR LEAD:  NEW FOOD LABELING WILL HOPEFULLY HELP EVERYONE, ELIZABETH TRACEY REPORTS

Do you really understand the labeling on food products you consume?  For many of us the answer is no, even among those who take the time to read them.  Now the federal government, including the executive branch and the FDA, say it’s time to change the label to reflect added sugar, real world portions, and bolder calorie labeling.  Redonda Miller, an internal medicine expert at Johns Hopkins, offers her opinion.

MILLER: I really applaud the recent efforts by the FDA to change how we label foods. The FDA has not looked at this issue in over a decade, so given the prevalence of obesity in our country, the time is now. I look forward to more transparency, the average consumer cannot translate grams of sodium into what is practical for their diet.  So these new changes will help us really choose wisely for our food intake.  :26

Miller says she’d like to see whether the new labeling promotes behavior change, then perhaps modify the labeling again soon.  At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.