Unraveling the mystery of food labels

You have the right to know the food you’re eating, inside and out. As a Registered Dietitian, I thought I knew all about reading food labels until I stepped into the world of labeling compliance. In short, my job is to label food products. It sounds simple enough, but I’ve come to find that everything on a food label from the product name to the “100% All Natural” claim to the ingredient statement and nutrition facts panel must follow specific government regulations. These regulations were created to level the playing field for food manufacturers but more importantly they were created to protect consumers from false and misleading labels. Stay tuned as I walk you through my fascinating discoveries and how to better understand your food labels to make better choices to meet your dietary wants and needs.