Sign up for updates
Prevention Institute
Sign up for updates
  • About Us
    • Steering Committee
    • Our Accomplishments
    • Join SA
  • Action Center
    • Events
    • News and Updates
  • Tools
  • Policy
    • Local
    • State
    • Federal
  • Publications
    • Publications
  • Press
    • Strategic Alliance in the News
    • Press Releases
  • CA Blog
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • YouTube
  • linkedin
  • Instagram
  • Soundcloud

Juliet Sims

Date Published:  January 2011

Summary

Parents shouldn’t look to the labels on the front of food package for guidance on picking the healthiest products for their kids. Claiming Health: Front-of-Package Labeling of Children's Food looked at packages with front of package labeling--symbols that identify healthier products--and found that 84% of products studied didn’t meet basic nutritional standards.

The study looked at the front-of-package labeling on fifty-eight "Better-for-You" children's products. The nutritional content was compared against nutritional criteria derived from the US Dietary Guidelines and the National Academies of Science. In spite of the claims on the labels, study findings reveal:

  • More than half (57%) of the study products qualified as high sugar; 95% of products contained added sugar
  • More than half (53%) were low in fiber.
  • More than half (53%) of products did not contain any fruits or vegetables; of the fruits and vegetables found, half came from just 2 ingredients - tomatoes and corn.
  • 24% of prepared foods were high in saturated fats.
  • More than 1/3 (36%) of prepared foods & meals were high in sodium
  • 21% contained artificial coloring.-additives with potentially harmful health impacts, while offering no benefits whatsoever

If you are a member of the press, we invite you to view our Claiming Health Press Kit.

Healthy Food & Active Environments

Download Publication(s)

  • Claiming Health: Front-of-Package Labeling of Children's Food
Download All
image description
Oakland (main)
221 Oak St
Oakland, CA 94607
510-444-7738
Los Angeles
4315 Leimert Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90008
323-294-4527
Washington, D.C.
Please contact Sana Chehimi to reach PI’s DC based staff.
Houston
2520 Caroline St Suite 100
Houston, TX 77004
STAY CONNECTED
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Soundcloud