Low sugar levels could be displayed with good labeling practices

When a product tells us proudly that it’s “low calorie” or “non-fat,” sometimes this is evident, and sometimes this can be misconstrued as a a free pass for consumers to gorge, which is of course incorrect.

Context, once again, is everything. But according to a recent report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, efforts to keep labels accurate in order to keep consumers healthy seem to be working, albeit in small ways. There’s still a lot of work to do, but could this be a sign that greater attention to nutrition facts and stickers could be a tool to keep them constantly in the public eye.

The concern for this organization is largely focused on children, especially when sodas or cereals like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Trix and Reese’s Puffs are so prominently presented to try and lure the interest of kids.

Dr. Kelly Brownell was quoted in this release as referencing a study done years earlier to examine what effect lower-sugar cereals had on monitoring the nutrition levels of participating children.

“We found that those who ate the low sugar version of the cereal ate just about what you would like for them to have for breakfast, but sweetened it with fruit and got a nutrition boost from that,” the report writes. “Kids who ate the high sugar version of the cereal ate way more than what you want a kid to have for breakfast.”

Keeping sugar levels in mind when making labels should help keep companies somewhat on track and in touch with concerned parents and others who agree with this sentiment.