It’s a tricky thing to make sure all products released by a giant company fit government standards, but consumers can be misled by packaging that can is potentially dishonest. Perhaps it’s for the better that Naked Juice Company has been taken to task in a lawsuit regarding the way it describes itself. Labels for natural foods are a particularly difficult prospect, considering that the word “natural” is somewhat notoriously difficult to define.
According to the L.A. Weekly blog, the beverage producers are changing the way they represent their products on their containers. The drink makers will be settling a lawsuit that stems from their smoothies being found to contain genetically engineered ingredients, including fibers and sweeteners.
Despite its image, some consumers may not be aware that the Naked brand is a subsidiary of Pepsi. It will reportedly be paying $9 million and removing the term from its labels. Multiple sources also referred back to the Food and Drug Administration’s entry on its website.
“FDA has not developed a definition for use of the term natural or its derivatives,” it reads. “However, the agency has not objected to the use of the term if the food does not contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances.”
In such a case, it might be expected that there will be clashes over what exactly constitutes a “natural” ingredient. Making labels that don’t land businesses in trouble may be demanding, but companies can err on the side of caution with their own color label printer at their disposal.
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