Oct 30 2009
What’s The FDA Got To Do With Food Packaging? – Everything
Everyone is in a tizzy over the FDA cracking down on mislabeling of product packaging. The FDA has long been the primary regulator of many types of product packaging legislation. There are extensive documents, procedures and regulations with which many manufacturers must comply.
But recent food product packaging claims have received worldwide media attention particularly from the MOM factor about the “Smart Choice Label”. Smart Choice, promised to “provide ‘at-a-glance’ information that a product met strict science-based nutrition criteria” that made it easy for a consumer to make an informed purchasing decision.
Yet when one looks at the selection of products chosen it raises serious thoughts about the real nutritional value. Smart Choices, includes major companies such as Kellogg Co., Kraft Foods Inc. and General Mills Inc., and has been criticized for handing its “Smart Choice Lable” to processed foods that are high in sugar, such as Froot Loops cereal and Cracker Jack snack food.
AP Photo/Russel A. Daniels
Is excess sugar a smart choice?
The “Smart Choices” launch included several hundred products from a variety of companies. Now most of these companies have temporarily suspended the program pending FDA clarification.
Is this label telling the truth?
You can read the FDA Guidance for Industry: Letter Regarding Point of Purchase Food Labeling @ http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodLabelingNutrition/ucm187208.htm
In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that it will soon begin to target any logos or labels or symbols on cereals, snacks and other food packaging which may be making false claims to mislead or confuse the consumers. So the outcome is not yet known.
But in any case before you rush your package to market be sure and check the latest labeling guidelines and the pulse of the consumer. What you say on the front of your packaging could be misconstrued and case significant packaging problems.
For more on misleading packaging claims read: Packaging You LIE.. @
http://packaginguniversity.com/blog/2009/09/25/packaging-you-lie/
Please weigh in and tell me were you mislead by the Smart Choices logo on products you bought? If you are unsure whether your packaging claims might get you in trouble that’s what I do help you separate fact from fiction on your product packaging. Visit http://packagingdiva.com and request information how I can help.
4 responses so far
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I am a skeptical consumer. As a result, I do not feel I was mislead by the Smart Choices logo. But I have no doubt that many people were. For business owners, it is so important to pay attention to these issues to contribute to an overall trustworthy business environment. Because of the transparency present in business today, these kinds of misleading programs will all fall on their faces eventually. Consumers refuse to be led by the nose. They have more of a voice than ever and the power that was once concentrated in a few large companies is now diffused across the masses. This is the great thing about technology and how it has helped to level the playing field for everyone! I’m excited to see the federal government hold large companies accountable. I’m also excited for what it means in terms of smaller companies being able to get their piece of the pie! Great post!
Since I wrote this there has been much more activity by the FDA on misleading product packaging claims. Look for consumer blowback and the FDA to continue seeking out what they consider “false advertising ” on product packaging.
Happy Packaging!
JoAnn Hines
Boomer WBO and Packaging Diva
Most people, though, don’t find food packaging very interesting, and this is a shame. Food packaging is living proof that some of the most wonderful, life-enhancing, freedom-increasing innovations happen in some of the most mundane-seeming areas. And people who don’t appreciate the crucial role that food packaging plays in our lives are unlikely to spend much time critically evaluating the regulations the food packaging industry lives under, or feel outrage when such regulations go overboard. Many people have strong feeling in general about the FDA; some folks excoriate the FDA for allowing people to take drugs that can kill them, while others bash the FDA for not allowing people to take drugs that might save them. Most of these people are silent when it comes to FDA regulation of food packaging. Who ever got excited over a Coke bottle?
Regards,
I dont think this is actually gonna change anything. packaging has been as essential as advertising and like in advertising somethings just have to be flamboyant, u just cant help it.