{"id":9148,"date":"2014-03-03T10:28:51","date_gmt":"2014-03-03T15:28:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/allin\/?p=9148"},"modified":"2014-03-03T10:28:51","modified_gmt":"2014-03-03T15:28:51","slug":"small-print-on-food-labels-magnified","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/allin\/2014\/03\/03\/small-print-on-food-labels-magnified\/","title":{"rendered":"Small print on food labels magnified"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: eltpics<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

The FDA released their newly proposed Nutrition Facts<\/a> label for packaged foods last Thursday.\u00a0 It\u2019s the first significant update in 20 years.\u00a0 The new labels are intended to make more sense to consumers and help us all become more aware of what we\u2019re putting into our bodies.<\/p>\n

There are a variety of changes, but the two most significant are the requirement to list added sugars<\/a> on food labels and to update serving sizes to better reflect what people actually eat and drink. \u00a0How many times have you polished off a \u201csingle\u201d bag of chips only to realize in horror that you really had 3.5 servings?\u00a0 And, individual sugar consumption is now more than 22 teaspoons (around 88 grams) per day.\u00a0 That\u2019s about 15 teaspoons more than the American Heart Association<\/a> recommends.\u00a0 It\u2019s also about 3 \u00bd candy bars a day\u2026or 8 chocolate donuts worth of sugar!<\/p>\n

Understanding nutrition labels is important for our heath.\u00a0 According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) more than a third <\/a>of Americans are considered obese and less than half of us get enough physical activity.\u00a0 States with the highest overall obesity rates include Mississippi (36%), Louisiana (33%) and Alabama (32%).\u00a0 \u00a0New York State\u2019s overall rate is 25%, but it might surprise you to learn that four counties in the North Country have the highest rates of obesity in the state\u2014rates that more closely align with Alabama and Louisiana.\u00a0 Thirty-two percent of adults 20 and over in St. Lawrence, Herkimer, and Jefferson counties are obese (Body Mass Index \u2265 30) and Oswego county has the highest obesity rate in the state at 34%.\u00a0 Rates like this place us at greater risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, infertility and cancer.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what the proposed label\u00a0<\/em>looks like: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 And, the current label: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

\"nutrition2\"<\/a>\"nutrition3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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There will be a 90 day public comment period on the proposed changes before the final rules are issued by the FDA.\u00a0 The final rules are expected to take effect 60 days after they are published in the Federal Register.\u00a0 Industry will have two years beyond the effective date to comply.<\/p>\n

The takeaway from all of this\u2014get informed and get moving!\u00a0 Do you know your Body Mass Index (BMI)? It doesn\u2019t measure body fat directly, but BMI is a good screening tool to help you identify potential weight problems.\u00a0 Calculate yours now: \u00a0http:\/\/1.usa.gov\/1dSzT3p<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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References:<\/p>\n