FAQs on Decoding Food Labels: Are You Being Misled?
1. What does "sugar-free" actually mean?It means the product has less than 0.5g of sugar per serving, but it may still contain artificial sweeteners or added fats for taste.
2. Are "natural" and "organic" the same?
No! "Organic" is a certified label, while "natural" has no legal definition and can still contain processed ingredients.
3. Can "zero trans fat" foods still have trans fat?
Yes! If a serving contains less than 0.5g of trans fat, companies can legally label it as zero.
4. Does "made with whole grains" mean it's healthy?
Not necessarily. It may still contain mostly refined grains with only a small percentage of whole grains.
5. Is "low-calorie" really low in calories?
It depends. The FDA defines it as 40 calories or fewer per serving, but serving sizes can be misleading.
