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Organic
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This term is strictly regulated
by the government. “Farmers or producers have to go through a
lot of verification to get the Organic label” explains Urvashi
Rangan, senior scientist & policy analyst at Consumer reports.
1 exception: Fish; wild fish haven’t been eligible to be
certified organic because it’s too hard to control the ocean
environment. |
Natural |
Unlike with “Organic”, companies wanting to call
a product “natural” don’t have to go through a verification
process to use the term. Partially hydrogenated oils & high
fructose corn syrup could be in a product that is `natural’ High
fructose is not acquired by just squeezing it out of the corn –
it’s chemically processed dextrose, derived from corn. |
Fresh |
Poultry labeled
“Fresh”
can be stored at 26 degrees, its freezing point. Much debate
here in regards on how truly Fresh really is. |
Hormone Free |
All poultry is free of hormones by law. “Hormones
haven’t been allowed in poultry or pork since 1959, yet
consumers still think this label “significant” Look for
antibiotic – free (certain antibiotics r sometimes used as
growth promoters. |
Country of Origin |
There r gray areas, ex.
Processed foods that contain ingredients from abroad don’t have
to indicate country of origin |
Free Range |
This label carries little weight with poultry.
“Fryer chickens live for 6 to 8 weeks, But 5 of those weeks they
stay indoors (young & vulnerable). |
Grass fed |
As of November 2007 this
voluntary label is regulated by the US Dept. of Agriculture for
beef & lamb. The best way to make sure the label reflects
regulations – that the animal has access to pasture & wasn’t fed
grain, among other criteria – is to look for “USDA Processed
Verified” & “US Grass Fed” on the package. Producers who used
their own criteria for grass fed before 2007 r grandfathered in,
even if their products don’t meet the current standards. |
Trans Fat Free
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When a product contains partially hydrogenated
oils, it has trans fats, even if it bears the “trans fat free”
label. The explanation for this is a product can be called trans
fat free if it contains .5 a gram or less. Note: If u consume
more than a single serving, u ingest more than .5 gram. Reading
the label is a good thing. |
Whole Grain |
A product labeled 100% whole
grain has twice as much as fiber than marked with made with
whole grain. |
Healthy |
Also a regulated term but comes with some broad
definitions. Allow for some elaboration, it allows 480
milligrams of sodium per serving, when our total intake
shouldn’t exceed 2,400 milligrams per day. Ingesting a can of
hearty soup could make U well reach .5 that intake for the day.
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Calories |
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"Reduced calorie." At least 25 percent fewer calories than the
regular version.
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"Light" (in calories). One-third of the calories of the regular
version.
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"Low
calorie." 40 calories or less per serving.
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Fats |
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"Reduced fat." At least 25 percent less fat than the regular
version.
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"Light" (in fat). Half the fat of the regular version.
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"Low
fat." 3 grams of fat or less per serving.
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Sodium |
"Sodium free" or "Salt free" Less than 5
milligrams per serving
"Very low sodium" 35 milligrams or
less per serving
"Low sodium" 140 milligrams or less
per serving
"Low sodium meal" 140 milligrams or
less per 3 1/2 ounces
"Reduced" or "Less" At least 25% less
sodium than regular
sodium version
"Light in sodium" Half the sodium
of the regular version
"Unsalted" or "No salt added to the
product"
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no salt added during processing |
Minimum Risk Pesticides: Prohibited Label Language
Though minimum risk
pesticides are exempt from federal registration, there are requirements
regarding label content, including prohibitions against certain label
claims. Pesticides that qualify for federal exemption must bear a label
identifying the name and percentage (by weight) of each active
ingredient and the name of each inert ingredient. Because misleading
marketing claims can lead to increased risks to public health, the
following specific types of language are prohibited:
In general, minimum risk pesticides are barred from
making public health or antimicrobial pesticidal claims. Therefore:
products may not bear any claims to control or mitigate bacteria or
viruses that pose a threat to human health, and product labels may not
make claims to repel rodent or insect pests in a way that links the pest
to
specific
diseases. Some examples of this type of prohibited label
language are: "repels ticks that carry Lyme disease" or "repels
mosquitoes that can transmit malaria or encephalitis." Examples of
acceptable label claims include “repels ticks” or “repels mosquitoes."
The product must not include any false or misleading labeling
statements: concerning the composition of the product
Example:
failure to identify active ingredient (s) by name and
percentage by weight and each inert ingredient by name; involving
comparisons with other pesticides
Example:
"Works better than Product
X." Label claims regarding the effectiveness of pesticide products may
only be made after EPA has reviewed efficacy data on the products. Since
minimum risk pesticides are not registered by EPA, there is no mechanism
for the Agency to review such data. Therefore, all comparisons and other
efficacy-based claims are prohibited; concerning the value of the
product for purposes other than as a pesticide, since pesticide product
labels may not refer to nonpesticidal uses.
Example:
"Kills weeds and also
removes lime from automatic drip coffee machines"; directly or
indirectly implying that the pesticide is recommended or endorsed by any
agency of the federal government
Example:
“Recommended by EPA as
safe and exempt.” This kind of statement leads the consumer to believe
that the federal government has made such a determination for a
particular product. Because exempted products are not reviewed by EPA,
this kind of statement is misleading;
Example:
“It is a Violation of
Federal Law to Use this Product in a Manner Inconsistent with its
Labeling.” This statement is required on federally registered pesticide
products. It is misleading on minimum risk pesticide labels because it
hints at federal registration though 25(b) pesticides are exempt;
Example:
“EPA Registration No.” or
“EPA Establishment No.” These two examples are also false or misleading
because they imply that the product is registered by EPA.
An example
of a statement that the
Agency would likely consider acceptable would be: “This product has not
been registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
[The name of the company] represents that this product qualifies for
exemption from registration under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act.
Source of reference: USA Weekend Oct. 3-5 2008,
http://www.infinitewellnesssolutions.com/images/posters/ES_Poster5.pdf,
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/nutrition/13598/food-label-language-defined/,
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/regtools/25b/25b-language.htm, |
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