Foodie Pundit

Food Manufacturers Rely On Sneaky Labels To Disguise Junk Food As Health Options

Nutrition experts warn that clever front-of-package marketing tricks shoppers into buying ultra-processed foods disguised as healthy choices.

By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Health Nutrition

sugar photograph for this story

Key points

  • Front-of-package claims like natural and wholesome often lack legal definitions and mask high sugar or sodium content.
  • Manufacturers manipulate serving sizes on nutrition labels to make calorie and fat counts appear lower than typical consumption patterns.
  • Nutrition experts and reporting from ABC News emphasize that front-of-package imagery is designed to sell products rather than inform consumers.
  • Regulators are considering stricter rules, but advocacy groups argue mandatory front-of-package warning symbols are needed to curb deceptive claims.

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