Avoiding Deception When Buying Packaged Foods Requires Buzzword Education

There’s a fine line between outright dishonesty – barred by the federal government – and clever deception when it comes to the use of “unregulated buzzwords” on food packaging. Found frequently on food labels are words like organic – that one is FDA-regulated – natural, fat-free, cage-free, hormone-free, and whole grain. Cage-free, for example, means laying hens aren’t jammed into tiny cages. They can walk around in enclosed areas. But it doesn’t mean they get to wander around outside. That’s what “free-range” means. Another confusing term: only “100 percent whole grain” ensures it’s made from whole grain, while “made with” whole grain means it’s mostly enriched flour.