Nutrition labeling is a healthy initiative

By LOU GELFAND, Star Tribune

Last update: November 9, 2008 - 10:13 PM

There now is more hope that the food industry finally will fulfill its ethical obligation to fully inform consumers what is in its products.

The big hitters -- from General Mills to Kellogg's to Coca-Cola -- have agreed to adopt a front-of-package nutrition labeling system.

They were brought together by the Keystone Center, a nonprofit that visualized the scene as a public health problem wanting for a consensus solution.

The front-of-package location for a symbol signifying the "Smart Choices Program" will tell consumers that the manufacturer has met the program's requirements.

The symbol, which will show up in mid-2009, will assure consumers that the product does not exceed standards for specific nutrients to limit things such as total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, added sugars and sodium.

Also, for most categories, they must provide positive attributes termed "nutrients to encourage" that include calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium, plus vitamins A, C and E.

There was one important discord at the conference: Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, withdrew. He cited the absence of a symbol for products that have high levels of sodium, saturated fat, or sugar; allowing foods of questionable or negligible nutritional value, such as Sugar Free Popsicles (fortified with vitamin C), and allowing servings of food with as much as 12 grams of added sugars -- such as General Mills' Reese's Puffs and Kellogg's Frosted Flakes and Cocoa Krispies, all cereals that have sugar content of 40 percent or more.

Jacobson continually reminds consumers that most of them need only about 2,000 calories a day. But don't expect to be reminded of that where you do your shopping.

lgelfand@stratribune.com

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