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4 Outrageous Food Label Fake-Outs

Posted Tue, Mar 11, 2008, 6:19 pm PDT
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When you pick up a tempting food, scan the nutrition label, and think, "Wow, cool" -- because it's surprisingly lite or low-cal or free of trans fat -- you expect those claims to be bona fide, right? Hah. Food packagers can be sneaky. Watch out for these 4 typical traps.

  1. When it comes to comfort food, has it got to be Kraft's Macaroni and Cheese? Look twice. Like many boxed food mixes, the confusing label lists two sets of nutrition stats -- and the first one is for the dry mix only. Unless you plan on eating your mac-cheese mix straight from the box, the prepared version (made with margarine and 2% milk) adds an extra 15 grams fat and 150 calories per serving to the figures on the label.
  2. Just downed a tall (23.5-ounce) can of AriZona Mucho Mango juice blend? Brace yourself. The sugar hit is 75 grams, not 25, as a glance at the label suggests. And the calorie hit is 360, not 120. That's ‘cause one serving is only 8 ounces -- you're supposed to save the remaining two-thirds of the can for two more drinks. 
  3. Snacking on one of those smallish 3-ounce bags of multigrain Sun Chips? Smart, but note the itty-bitty serving size -- only 1/3 of that bag! Scarf down more and you might as well be enjoying Oreos. 
  4. Sometimes you really need a cookie, right? Happily, the nutrition label on your fave brand says 0 grams of both, fat and trans fat. That's good enough that you can deal with the sugar guilt tomorrow, right? Sorry, but 0 doesn't mean zero. It means less than 0.5 gram per serving. Sure, that's not much -- unless a serving is, say, two Snackwells Chocolate Mint cookies and by midnight you've finished the whole box. (Who, you?)

Shady labels like these give a whole new meaning to buyer's remorse. And wising up to nutrition tricks won't just keep you trim. Avoiding foods that list saturated and trans fats, simple sugars, or processed grains among their first five ingredients can make your RealAge 3.6 years younger. Sweet. 

Average (2138 Ratings): 4 out of 5 stars

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  • 1. Posted by 'Schmod on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 3:12 am PDT

    I can only count 3 "fakeout" examples. Evidently the 4th example is the article itself. thanks Yahoo weasles!

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  • 2. Posted by Howard F on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 3:15 am PDT

    Wow, at last an article that provides some value to the reader. I wish you had also included the yogurt in your article. Except for the Geek Style brands, they're nothing but suger bombs as well.

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  • 3. Posted by gammieh on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 3:24 am PDT

    1) Mac and cheese 2) Juice drink 3) Chips and 4) Cookies

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  • 4. Posted by tilei65 on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 3:33 am PDT

    What a wasted bit of information. They take the standpoint that people are too stupid to read the label! The first few lines tell you how many servings are in the bag or bottle. It is not 'hidden' from anyone. This is nothing more alarmist rhetoric for the ignorant, the only fake out is the writer.

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  • 5. Posted by ojibajo on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 3:43 am PDT

    Wow Schmod! I guess math isn't your forte. 1.) Kraft Mac & Cheese, 2.) AriZona Mucho Mango Juice, 3.) Sun Chips 4.) Snackwell Chocolate Mint Cookies.

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  • 6. Posted by brshivley on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 3:51 am PDT

    Only three examples... 1. Mac and cheese, 2. Juice drink & Chips (they are the SAME example) and 3. Cookies. There are not 4 examples.

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  • 7. Posted by fgmutton on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 3:51 am PDT

    Wanted "truth in product labelling." How about simple straightforward codes by responsible Corporations.

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  • 8. Posted by andrea on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 3:56 am PDT

    come on, what kind of idiot cant read a label!

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  • 9. Posted by on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 4:05 am PDT

    Let's not leave out "dehydrated cane juice" (sugar; duh!). I am glad the article mentioned the trick of breaking down the item into several lists... I saw a "natural" boxed cereal do that, and it was able to list a different version of sugar in each sub-list, lower down in the list, but if it had been one comprehensive list, and all the forms of sugar had been listed as just "sugar", sugar would have been the first ingredient. Sneaky and unethical. We could all wish for such a thing as a "responsible corporation" but in our economic system, a corporation is only responsible to its shareholders and the bottom line.

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  • 10. Posted by PAUL S on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 4:07 am PDT

    Why don't you people get a life? I can't believe you would be up at 4AM making nonsensical comments on an article that is trying to help you improve your health... sheesh!

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  • 11. Posted by on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 4:08 am PDT

    Only idiots fall victim to those label tricks. And there are a whole lot of people who fall victim to these tricks! Losers...

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  • 12. Posted by MediaMan on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 4:12 am PDT

    looks like 2 & 3 are the same thing??? heres another 1 for you, No sugar added thats a real fooler...and they print that real big in front lables. lol

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  • 13. Posted by delaney_charles_w@sbcglobal.net on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 4:29 am PDT

    Some lives you people have....I mean, think about it??? Who gives a @#$%^&* !!!

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  • 14. Posted by ohcharlie2000 on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 4:29 am PDT

    As a Registered Dietitian, I wish to say labels can be tricky to many people if they are not reading the full label, or just do not understand what they are looking at. Everyone has a different level of learning. So, let us just say, look at the whole picture, not just parts....even the ingredients list would be helpful to consider in your overall daily meal plan.

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  • 15. Posted by Matthew C on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 4:36 am PDT

    Don't forget that splenda claims of 0 calories per packet, but really it has 4 calories per packet because FDA regs. state a claim of 0 is less than 5 calories.

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  • 16. Posted by clown d on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 4:36 am PDT

    There are 4 examples. Most people already realize that the numbers are PER SERVING, not for the whole bottle of juice. And most juices and such that are listed as "no sugar added" does not include any natural sugars that are in all fruits and vegetables. Best thing, to stay away from all processed boxed items.

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  • 17. Posted by michigandave on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 4:38 am PDT

    Well said Langdon R ! When corporations really step up with some integrity first ! they might be surprised to see their bottom line follw. Honestly , some "truth" in labeling would be refreshing!

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  • 18. Posted by Mike K on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 4:55 am PDT

    Watch out for sodas too. The FDA only requires that specific sugar molecules be listed. Manufacturers simply developed or switched to other types of sugars that aren't required to be listed. You're really taking in a lot more than you think.

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  • 19. Posted by on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 4:56 am PDT

    If people would just read they would see what the label says. It clearly gives you the serving size, but then you have to tell some people to be carefull because the coffee you give them is hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • 20. Posted by Cindy K on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 5:04 am PDT

    Just as some people do not count well some people do not read well either. It's an informative article for some. That is what makes the world go round. Patience all. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Next time you click the little box that says I have read the terms and conditions, you better read them, most DO NOT. I get to listen to the whining because most do not.

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  • 21. Posted by KingAndreini on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 5:04 am PDT

    I have said it before and I will say it again; If you want a healthy meal cook and prepare your own food. Why do we expect these companies to take our health into consideration if we dont? Cookies and chips fattening?? No way? Sugar in 'juice'?? OMG! Cheese unhealthy? What the? I mean c'mon ppl.

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  • 22. Posted by pounds172000 on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 5:04 am PDT

    If people choose to purchase a product and don't read the information on the label or don't understand it's meaning then I hold the consumer responsible. GET EDUCATED!! No one is looking out for your best's interests but you!! Stand up and take responsibility and quit blaming everyone else. If you don't understand a food label - ask someone, go on the internet or library.

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  • 23. Posted by rousa1@verizon.net on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 5:13 am PDT

    i'm glad that this is out thier because i always follow the labels, but then wonder why is my work outs becoming more and more intense......

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  • 24. Posted by Linnea M on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 5:17 am PDT

    What's with the "only 3 examples" Comments? The fourth example is the cookies.

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  • 25. Posted by pequa60 on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 5:22 am PDT

    Labels are all made following strict FDA or USDA regulations. It is not the manufacturers that are trying to be tricky. One mistake on a label can be cause for a recall, and food manufactureres do not risk that with labeling tricks.

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  • 26. Posted by Valerie B on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 5:24 am PDT

    Read labels and use common sense IF you really care what you chose eat.You don't have to be a rocket scientist for petes sake and as far as being hood winked by some--there is a fool born every minute!

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  • 27. Posted by rccoopersr@att.net on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 5:27 am PDT

    Need to add Oatmeal to the list. They advertise that it removes cholestrol from the "body." But where in the body. Eating a 'healthy' bowl daily will not remove cholestrol from the blood stream. It keeps cholestrol from entering the blood stream. But if you eat Oatmeal by 'itself' ... there is no cholestrol in the stomach for the oatmeal to remove. Now, if you eat oatmeal along with food that contains cholestrol ... then it does it's work. Their advertisement is 'mis-leading!

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  • 28. Posted by dezeray@verizon.net on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 5:29 am PDT

    i agree witth brshivley. They listed the juice and the chips thing as two different hints - but they're the EXACT same example! This article really only has 3 tips. By the way, anyone taking the time to read labels probably knows what "serving size" and "servings per package" means.

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  • 29. Posted by Teri on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 5:32 am PDT

    Actually, if you look at the top of the Nutrition Facts panel There should be a line of copy that says "Servings Per Contaier" and directly below that it should say in bold type "Amount Per Serving", it is a requirement that the packaging have this and other information on it. If your not sure try this web site for what a legal nutritional panel should look like. www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/foodlab.html

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  • 30. Posted by Firehorse on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, 5:33 am PDT

    I don't know, Andrea (#9), the same kind of idiot who can't use an apostrophe?

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