On-Off Topic - Smart Choices Labeling Program

The Smart Choices Labeling Campaign is fairly new to grocery shelves and wants you to learn that a green checkmark means that the product in the box is "better" for you.

On the surface this looks fine. Putting a limit of 35% fat and 25% added sugar in food sounds good. Fruits and vegetables qualify automatically, if they would like to buy the rights to wear the checkmark, which can cost up to $100,000. Strangely enough, Froot Loops, a cereal sold in the US is also qualified to sport the green tick.

"Froot Loops qualifies for the label because it meets standards set by the Smart Choices Program for fiber and Vitamins A and C, and because it does not exceed limits on fat, sodium and sugar. It contains the maximum amount of sugar allowed under the program for cereals, 12 grams per serving, which in the case of Froot Loops is 41 percent of the product, measured by weight. That is more sugar than in many popular brands of cookies." -
_{New York Times -"For Your Health - Froot Loops" -Sept. 4, 2009}

The rationale is that the cereal is "better for you" than a donut. Well, we all can figure that one out. I, for one, am tired of having my intelligence insulted by companies dreaming up new marketing campaigns, so I am asking you to read the articles yourself and make an informed decision. Then, when you buy your Froot Loops you will know it's for the fun factor, not the nutrition.

• Smart Choices Campaign

• New York Times -"For Your Health - Froot Loops" -Sept. 4, 2009