Argument: Food labeling helps people make better choices regarding their food

Given that there is a global trend of increasing numbers of overweight and obese people, [1] food that is fattening and therefore contributes to this problem needs to be clearly labeled so people can avoid them.

Research shows that having this nutritional information helps people make better choices. Up to 30% of consumers reconsider buying a food item after reading the food label and finding out what’s inside [2] .

Another study points out that there were “significant differences in mean nutrient intake of total calories, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, dietary fiber, and sugars” when people could go ahead and use the information about the food they were considering buying. [3]

It is therefore clear that making more information about food available, especially in the form of readily available food labels, helps people make choices that will help the fight against obesity.

[1] Elseth, M., Obesity numbers rise in 28 states, published 6/29/2010, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jun/29/obesity-rates-rose-28-states/ , accessed 9/15/2011

[2] Arsenault, J. E., Can Nutrition Labeling Affect Obesity?, published in 2010, http://www.choicesmagazine.org/magazine/article.php?article=140 , accessed 9/15/2011

[3] diabetesincontrol.com, Nutritional Labeling and Point-of-Purchase Signs Work to Make Better Choices, published 8/10/2010, http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/articles/53-diabetes-news/9680-nutritional-labeling-and-point-of-purchase-signs-work-to-make-better-choices , accessed 9/15/2011

Candidate 1: "Food labeling introduces unfair prejudice against certain products

Requiring companies to label their products a certain way might unfairly influence the sales of this product. Let us observe this point on the example of GMOs in food.

For instance, a study investigated the influence of labeling a cornflakes product with different variations on the theme of containing GMOs. The packaging might say that the product contained "USDA approved genetically modified corn" or "may contain genetically modified corn", basically stating the same thing. Yet the first product was evaluated much more favorably than the second, with a 6% price perception difference. [1]

Considering that GMOs are considered safe by the health authorities, [2] it would be unfair to prejudice against these products by specifically targeting them, when they pose no risk to health.

[1] Onyango, B. M., et al., U.S. Consumers' Willingness to Pay for Food Labeled 'Genetically Modified', published in October 2006, http://ideas.repec.org/a/ags/arerjl/10210.html , accessed 9/15/2011

[2] WHO, 20 questions on genetically modified foods, published 12/10/2010, http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/ , accessed 9/15/2011"
Candidate 2: "For every company that actually makes an effort to create a program of healthy products, there ten that use labels to promote a “functional food” gimmick.

More and more products are being labeled with the “health food” and “functional food” labels. One strong example of that is the “contains added vitamins and minerals” label in the U.S., with foods being fortified with vitamins – so seemingly improved for the better. Yet the U.S. population’s vitamin deficiencies are at an all time low. An epidemiologist at the University of Pennsylvania also notes that these fortifications and the labels that come with them are mostly a tactic used to distract consumers from actual nutritional problems – those of excess. [1]

[1] Narayan, A., Figuring Out Food Labels, published 5/2/2010, http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1986269_1986240_1986272,00.html , accessed 9/17/2011"
Candidate 3: "Food labeling allows companies to deceive consumers

What we have seen with introducing visually impressive food labels is that companies started adopting similar visual elements to promote their products in a dishonest way.

Let’s take for instance Dannon’s Activia, which was marketed as health food (with very convincing packaging that went with that strategy). The labels claimed that the product helped improve digestion by hastening it. Yet the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) found this claim to be false.

On a similar note, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies featured packaging purporting that the product boosted immunity. Again, the regulator found this untrue. [1]

We see that the companies, so in essence telling consumers to trust information on the packaging, can easily misuse labeling.

[1] Singer, N., Foods With Benefits, or So They Say, published 5/14/2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/business/15food.html , accessed 9/15/2011"
Candidate 4: "Food labeling does not change consumer behavior

Food labels may include useful dietary information, but they will not significantly impact actual consumption for two reasons.

The first is that people don’t really read or use the labels. A study at WSU shows that only 41% of men actually read the labels. The women did better, but still only 59% of them actually read the labels – which does not mean they actually understood or heeded the advice on them. [1]

The second reason concerns the connection between actually getting the information and acting on it. Research on posting calories on restaurant menus shows that customers actually ordered slightly more calories compared to before the information was made available. [2]

Thus we see that food labels are not enough to nudge customers towards better and healthier food choices.

[1] Warman, S., Reading food labels can help battle obesity, published 9/16/2010, http://www.weightworld.co.uk/health-and-diet-news/reading-food-labels-can-help-battle-obesity-1917.html , accessed 9/15/2011

[2] Hartocollis, A., Calorie Postings Don’t Change Habits, Study Finds, published 10/6/2009, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/nyregion/06calories.html , accessed 9/15/2011"
Candidate 5: "Food labeling rarely helps consumers find out what exactly it is they are eating, because of the convoluted names companies use to describe ingredients.

Forcing companies to label food does not mean they will actually make those labels easy to understand and useful. Even when it comes to things as important as common allergens in food, it is very difficult to understand whether it is included or not. [1]

[1] Webster Family Wellness Center, Confusing terms make food labels difficult to understand, published 5/7/2011, http://thewellzone.org/2011/05/confusing-terms-make-food-labels-difficult-to-understand/ , accessed 9/17/2011"
Candidate 6: "People will only make better choices regarding their food only if people actually read the labels.

A survey of Irish consumers found that reading labels is rare. In fact, 61% of men and 40% of women never read the labels on food before they make the purchase. [1]

In addition, when labels are actually read, they seem to work only in more affluent parts of the society and so this is only going to have any effect in tackling obesity in one segment of society. [2]

[1] Hills, S., Half of all consumers ignore food labels, published 2/24/2009, http://www.foodnavigator.com/Financial-Industry/Half-of-all-consumers-ignore-food-labels , accessed 9/17/2011

[2] Kersh, R., Obesity &amp; the New Politics of Health Policy, published in February 2009, http://www.srm-ejournal.com/article.asp?AID=7351 , accessed 9/17/2011"

People will only make better choices regarding their food only if people actually read the labels.

A survey of Irish consumers found that reading labels is rare. In fact, 61% of men and 40% of women never read the labels on food before they make the purchase. [1]

In addition, when labels are actually read, they seem to work only in more affluent parts of the society and so this is only going to have any effect in tackling obesity in one segment of society. [2]

[1] Hills, S., Half of all consumers ignore food labels, published 2/24/2009, http://www.foodnavigator.com/Financial-Industry/Half-of-all-consumers-ignore-food-labels , accessed 9/17/2011

[2] Kersh, R., Obesity &amp; the New Politics of Health Policy, published in February 2009, http://www.srm-ejournal.com/article.asp?AID=7351 , accessed 9/17/2011
