"The world of food labeling and marketing is often an impenetrable forest of terms, numbers, and nutritional facts that turns all of us into detectives and who just want to learn what the heck we're actually eating. But while ingredients and nutrition are important to look at, that data can at least usually be trusted to be accurate because of Federal regulations. Instead, you should also be questioning food marketing terms that contain vague promises with no legal definition."
"That has been slightly addressed in recent years, as the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a "guideline," in the late 2010s around what should be called "natural." But, by its own admission there is still no formal definition of the term when it comes to food. The guidelines simply state natural means no artificial or synthetic ingredients and no added colors. But it only applies to the finished product, not how it was grown or manufactured."
Consumers often look for red flags like long lists of unpronounceable ingredients, but some warnings are subtler. Food labeling and marketing present many vague terms, numbers, and nutrition facts that complicate understanding what is eaten. Ingredient lists and nutrition facts are usually accurate because of federal regulations, while marketing claims often lack legal definitions. The label "natural" lacks a formal legal definition; FDA guidance covers only finished products and excludes growth or manufacturing methods. Foods labeled "natural" may still be grown with synthetic pesticides, be ultra-processed, or contain GMOs. Comparative labels like "low fat," "low sugar," and "light" are also hard to strictly define.
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