SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A new proposal is in the works to simplify the nutrition labels that break down calories, serving sizes, and other food facts. The food and drug administration is working to revise the labels because experts say confusion is contributing to the nation’s obesity problem.
Shoppers like Wendy Hamann say the current nutrition labels can be misleading. A small instant package of potatoes, for example, has two serving sizes, and calorie counts, based on preparation. "It's very confusing because its either a quarter cup or it's a half cup and very rarely do we eat a half a cup of potatoes most people I think would spoon more."
A small box of Goldfish snack crackers is also two serving sizes, Pop Tarts are packaged in two’s but a single serving size is one pastry at 200 calories. A 20 ounce bottle of soda contains 2.5 serving sizes. It's that kind of confusion the FDA hopes to clear up with the proposed changes to labels.
The changes include more accurate serving sizes, a greater emphasis on calories, and less focus on substances like fat, sodium and carbohydrates.
Many consumers would also like labels to list information about preservatives and the amount of processing that takes place. The food manufacturing industry is reluctant to make any label changes, and shoppers like Hamann say they understand why. It's all about making the product more appealing on paper. "Lower calorie and a better value, so you could feed your family for one package when you really might need two."
