Beware the New Food Marketing Hype

By , SparkPeople Blogger
Understanding the loopholes of food labeling can be tricky. It requires looking beyond the fancy marketing claims to find the truth about a product. Many times when we are in a hurry we skip reading the labels and move toward purchasing a product based on name or nutrient recognition and price which is just what the marketers love.

There has been a great deal of talk about high fructose corn syrup pros and cons over the years. Now food companies such as ConAgra, Kraft Foods, and PepsiCo are taking a marketing leap into the topic as well.

Starting in May, Hunt's will offer a new ketchup formulation. Sprite Green and Dr. Pepper in anniversary packaging and other products such as Wheat Thins and Healthy Choice Tortellini Primavera Parmesan will also be appearing on store shelves as well. According to Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert, these new product formulas will not contain high fructose corn syrup and you can bet their labels will note this difference as well.

Recent Princeton University research findings suggest that the question about health concerns from diets rich in HFCS will likely go on. Two different studies in rats demonstrated a notable influence on weight from HFCS intake including a 48% weight gain in some testing scenarios. With the increased focus on reducing the obesity rate in American and the ongoing uncertainty of cause and effect of HFCS, food manufactures are wise to make the move to reducing or eliminating HFCS use in their products.

The Bottom Line - So if this is a good thing, why the headline to beware? Because just as we saw marketing trends confuse consumers with the low carbohydrate craze, the same potential holds true for the no high fructose corn syrup frenzy. When new products like Hunt's Ketchup or Wheat Thins show up on store shelves in a new formulation that removes HFCS, it is a good thing and worth noting on the label. However, when foods that never contained HFCS start displaying the same label it is misleading and a marketing fad that doesn't help consumers. The bottom line for smart consumers is to continue to read labels and know what you are buying and putting in your body. If a product you currently use contains HFCS and a new formulation appears next to it on the shelf that does not, consider making a switch. However, beware the practice of buying a product simply because of the "contains no high fructose corn syrup" label.

Were you aware these new products would be showing up on your store shelves? What do you think about HFCS-free products? Do you think there is a consumer confusion risk?