Tell the FDA: Crack Down On False Health Food Advertising
- by: SierraRise
- recipient: Food & Drug Administration
When you see some food in the store labeled as promoting good health, you'd think – of course – that the product would be good for your health. That's not necessarily true.
The government does have some standards for how companies can claim health benefits, but those are mostly focused on fat and salt. What about sugar or artificial ingredients? You're on your own to figure that out.
Science now recognizes the role that sugar plays in a variety of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and heart and liver disease. But health food shouldn't just be about avoiding bad substances – it should be nutritious too.
Tell the Food & Drug Administration that you expect health food marketing to be honest and to promote good nutrition.
Subject Line: Comment letter to FDA re: "healthy" label
Dear Decisionmaker,
Current use of the "healthy" label to sell food is grossly misleading. Consumers like me should feel fully confident that the food they eat is as advertised.
I call on the Food and Drug Administration to define the word "healthy" and related terms to mean food that supports long-term human health, including: encouraging whole or minimally processed ingredients; limiting the amount of added sugar; requiring an "excellent source of" rating for two or more key nutrients; restricting the routine use of antibiotics; banning pesticides; and prohibiting genetically-engineered, artificial, and synthetic ingredients.
Without this action by the FDA, unhealthy food will continue to be deceptively marketed to consumers. Thank you for making this policy change.
[Your Comment]
Thank you,
[Your Name]
