Comments on: Misleading Labeling http://christiescorner.com/2009/11/13/misleading-labeling/ Real food. Real life. It ain't always pretty. Mon, 21 May 2012 13:08:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jack http://christiescorner.com/2009/11/13/misleading-labeling/#comment-8648 Jack Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:29:23 +0000 http://christiescorner.com/?p=1804#comment-8648 I believe so, too. It's a matter of making yourself take the time to write them; but, as you said, it has to start somewhere. I had never thought of using Twitter in that way-may have to give it another shot. That's very true. Although in rural Ohio the supermarket must still be relied on for the majority of food supply. Ever since I have been trying to use local and sustainable food I have found that artisans (such as the butcher, or fish monger when I'm down south) are truly some of my favorite people. They have such a passion for what they do as opposed to the 16 year old at the supermarket. I could end up going on for ages about this stuff so I'll stop here. I believe so, too. It’s a matter of making yourself take the time to write them; but, as you said, it has to start somewhere. I had never thought of using Twitter in that way-may have to give it another shot.
That’s very true. Although in rural Ohio the supermarket must still be relied on for the majority of food supply. Ever since I have been trying to use local and sustainable food I have found that artisans (such as the butcher, or fish monger when I’m down south) are truly some of my favorite people. They have such a passion for what they do as opposed to the 16 year old at the supermarket. I could end up going on for ages about this stuff so I’ll stop here.

]]> By: Charmian Christie http://christiescorner.com/2009/11/13/misleading-labeling/#comment-8631 Charmian Christie Wed, 08 Jun 2011 02:19:46 +0000 http://christiescorner.com/?p=1804#comment-8631 Thanks for the update. It's good to see food is being taken seriously. Thanks for the update. It’s good to see food is being taken seriously.

]]> By: Charmian Christie http://christiescorner.com/2009/11/13/misleading-labeling/#comment-8630 Charmian Christie Wed, 08 Jun 2011 02:18:59 +0000 http://christiescorner.com/?p=1804#comment-8630 Dana always has great suggestions. I miss her blog so much! I understand how you feel about complaints going unheard. I believe old fashioned letters (paper and ink) get read, as do tweets (as they are so public). I'm sure emails get counted (not necessarily read). But it has to start somewhere. I don't think Canada has any firmer definitions for "organic" but getting to know your grower, butcher, green grocer etc helps. Thanks for taking the time to post such a thoughtful comment. Dana always has great suggestions. I miss her blog so much!

I understand how you feel about complaints going unheard. I believe old fashioned letters (paper and ink) get read, as do tweets (as they are so public). I’m sure emails get counted (not necessarily read). But it has to start somewhere. I don’t think Canada has any firmer definitions for “organic” but getting to know your grower, butcher, green grocer etc helps.

Thanks for taking the time to post such a thoughtful comment.

]]> By: Jack http://christiescorner.com/2009/11/13/misleading-labeling/#comment-8627 Jack Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:08:37 +0000 http://christiescorner.com/?p=1804#comment-8627 On a positive note, I did find that the Secretary of Agriculture and Commissioner of Food and Drugs when Food Inc. was made (both appointed by George Bush) were charged with ethical violations and the Secretary of Agriculture was fined $90,000 on top of being sentenced to 3 years of probation. On a positive note, I did find that the Secretary of Agriculture and Commissioner of Food and Drugs when Food Inc. was made (both appointed by George Bush) were charged with ethical violations and the Secretary of Agriculture was fined $90,000 on top of being sentenced to 3 years of probation.

]]> By: Jack http://christiescorner.com/2009/11/13/misleading-labeling/#comment-8626 Jack Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:52:23 +0000 http://christiescorner.com/?p=1804#comment-8626 Dana, that was a good suggestion. I'll have to go search for a US equivalent to the CFIA. Maybe the USDA, unless it is still headed by the former CEO of some food corporation who did the complete opposite of what the USDA was designed for. It still always feels like one's letters/emails of complaint go into an untouched inbox somewhere. I've always tried to eat relatively healthy but when I saw the director of Food Inc. interviewed on Oprah last year I made a lot of changes. Even more when I saw the actual documentary a few months ago (which I would highly recommend to anyone who takes organic/wholesome food seriously). Another problem here in the US is that the USDA and FDA have no standards for foods labeled 'organic' or 'all-natural' so manufacturers can market their food as such with out it being truly organic/all-natural. Of course, consumers aren't stupid so most of it isn't too bad but one does find things that have slipped through the cracks. Dana, that was a good suggestion. I’ll have to go search for a US equivalent to the CFIA. Maybe the USDA, unless it is still headed by the former CEO of some food corporation who did the complete opposite of what the USDA was designed for. It still always feels like one’s letters/emails of complaint go into an untouched inbox somewhere.
I’ve always tried to eat relatively healthy but when I saw the director of Food Inc. interviewed on Oprah last year I made a lot of changes. Even more when I saw the actual documentary a few months ago (which I would highly recommend to anyone who takes organic/wholesome food seriously).
Another problem here in the US is that the USDA and FDA have no standards for foods labeled ‘organic’ or ‘all-natural’ so manufacturers can market their food as such with out it being truly organic/all-natural. Of course, consumers aren’t stupid so most of it isn’t too bad but one does find things that have slipped through the cracks.

]]> By: Charmian Christie http://christiescorner.com/2009/11/13/misleading-labeling/#comment-3563 Charmian Christie Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:13:48 +0000 http://christiescorner.com/?p=1804#comment-3563 Thanks, Amy. For some reason, your comment got flagged as "spam" and I missed it. Thanks for the information. I do feel that in this case, the "as prepared" would be possible since they specified whole milk. But you're right. They could argue about egg size, currents, poppy seeds... "All the more reason to make your own from scratch" -- Agreed, although my own recipe would have as much butter! Thanks, Amy. For some reason, your comment got flagged as “spam” and I missed it.

Thanks for the information. I do feel that in this case, the “as prepared” would be possible since they specified whole milk. But you’re right. They could argue about egg size, currents, poppy seeds…

“All the more reason to make your own from scratch” — Agreed, although my own recipe would have as much butter!

]]> By: Charmian Christie http://christiescorner.com/2009/11/13/misleading-labeling/#comment-3561 Charmian Christie Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:08:43 +0000 http://christiescorner.com/?p=1804#comment-3561 Thanks so much for the detailed comment, Nancy. Very interesting information. Cereals add the "with milk" information to look better while the scone mixes omits it because it looks worse. Makes sense to me -- although it's still frustrating as a consumer. I really appreciate you taking the time to leave such a detailed answer. Thanks so much for the detailed comment, Nancy. Very interesting information. Cereals add the “with milk” information to look better while the scone mixes omits it because it looks worse. Makes sense to me — although it’s still frustrating as a consumer.

I really appreciate you taking the time to leave such a detailed answer.

]]> By: Charmian Christie http://christiescorner.com/2009/11/13/misleading-labeling/#comment-3560 Charmian Christie Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:04:35 +0000 http://christiescorner.com/?p=1804#comment-3560 Great suggestion, Dana. This was made in the US,but I'll keep this in mind for Canadian packages. Thanks so much for the link. The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Great suggestion, Dana. This was made in the US,but I’ll keep this in mind for Canadian packages. Thanks so much for the link.

The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

]]> By: Nancy http://christiescorner.com/2009/11/13/misleading-labeling/#comment-3558 Nancy Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:23:31 +0000 http://christiescorner.com/?p=1804#comment-3558 Hello Ms Christie I just happened to read your blog through the Cuisine Canada Scene site. Is the nutrition facts label misleading? Is it legal? Misleading maybe, misunderstood yes, legal yes. The regulations actually require the nutrition facts to be on the "as packaged" not on the finished prepared product. The "as prepared" information is voluntary. There is a form of the nutrition facts that allows for the "as packaged" and "as prepared" information. The "as prepared" imformation is voluntary. Part of the problem is that the consumer has not been provided insufficient information/ education (from government, health professional, etc) to understand the nutrition facts. If the "as prepared" information were included based on the recipe using unsalted butter the nutrition facts would have the following information Serving size 80g Calories 270 Fat 38% Daily Value (DV) Saturated Trans 88 %DV Cholesterol 115mg (not incuded in nutrition facts format) Sodium 11 % DV Carbohydrates 3% DV Fibre 0% DV Vitamin A 25% DV Vitamin C 0%DV Calcium 6% DV Iron 4%DV I assist food companies with developing their nutrition facts panels. Some provide the "as packaged" and "as prepared" information, some do not. Many food companies and consumers find the nutrition facts panels with both the "as packaged" and "as prepared" very confusing. Some food companies (such as this one) do not want to provided the "as prepared" information because it negatively impacts on their product. What happens if the consumer does not follow the recipe as provided? If unsalted butter,margarine, or skim milk is used the nutrition information will change significantly. In the case of cereals including the information with added milk, the added milk reflects positvely on their product increasing protein, vitamins and minerals. CFIA would not consider this product to be mislabelled, it meets the requirements of the regulations. NJR Hello Ms Christie

I just happened to read your blog through the Cuisine Canada Scene site.
Is the nutrition facts label misleading? Is it legal?
Misleading maybe, misunderstood yes, legal yes. The regulations actually require the nutrition facts to be on the “as packaged” not on the finished prepared product. The “as prepared” information is voluntary. There is a form of the nutrition facts that allows for the “as packaged” and “as prepared” information. The “as prepared” imformation is voluntary.
Part of the problem is that the consumer has not been provided insufficient information/ education (from government, health professional, etc) to understand the nutrition facts.
If the “as prepared” information were included based on the recipe using unsalted butter the nutrition facts would have the following information
Serving size 80g
Calories 270
Fat 38% Daily Value (DV)
Saturated Trans 88 %DV
Cholesterol 115mg (not incuded in nutrition facts format)
Sodium 11 % DV
Carbohydrates 3% DV
Fibre 0% DV
Vitamin A 25% DV
Vitamin C 0%DV
Calcium 6% DV
Iron 4%DV

I assist food companies with developing their nutrition facts panels. Some provide the “as packaged” and “as prepared” information, some do not. Many food companies and consumers find the nutrition facts panels with both the “as packaged” and “as prepared” very confusing. Some food companies (such as this one) do not want to provided the “as prepared” information because it negatively impacts on their product. What happens if the consumer does not follow the recipe as provided? If unsalted butter,margarine, or skim milk is used the nutrition information will change significantly.
In the case of cereals including the information with added milk, the added milk reflects positvely on their product increasing protein, vitamins and minerals.
CFIA would not consider this product to be mislabelled, it meets the requirements of the regulations.
NJR

]]> By: Dana McCauley http://christiescorner.com/2009/11/13/misleading-labeling/#comment-3557 Dana McCauley Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:06:04 +0000 http://christiescorner.com/?p=1804#comment-3557 One of the things I've learned in my life as a food consultant is that if no one complains about misleading labels or wayward claims, they often go un corrected for a long time. The best thing a person can do when they find a misleading label is to write a letter to the CFIA and then cc the manufacturer. Here's a link to more info: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/labetie.shtml One of the things I’ve learned in my life as a food consultant is that if no one complains about misleading labels or wayward claims, they often go un corrected for a long time. The best thing a person can do when they find a misleading label is to write a letter to the CFIA and then cc the manufacturer.
Here’s a link to more info:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/labetie.shtml

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