Analyzing "healthy" Food ads
There are laws that prohibit advertisers from giving false information but that doesn't always mean ads are honest.
As a result, it can be hard to identify which foods are good for you and which simply look like they are good for you.
For example foods many foods have special packaging with phrases like:
"Contains Whole Grains!" "Good Source of Calcium!" "Enriched with Vitamins and Minerals!" These phrases alone are not a guarantee that the food is healthy. A smart shopper will look beyond the fancy labels and examine the nutrition information. |
Above is the back of a box of WhoNu? cookies. They claim to be nutritious alternatives to other junk food cookies. With a package like that, who wouldn't believe them?
I did until I compared the actual nutrition information to a traditional box of store bought cookies.
Below is the Nutrition Facts labels for a box of chocolate WhoNu? cookies and a box of Oreo cookies. They contain virtually the same fat, sodium and sugar.
I did until I compared the actual nutrition information to a traditional box of store bought cookies.
Below is the Nutrition Facts labels for a box of chocolate WhoNu? cookies and a box of Oreo cookies. They contain virtually the same fat, sodium and sugar.
WhoNu? Cookies Oreo Cookies
Smart Shopping
Visit the following websites and compare the nutrition information of the food products they sell. With your partner record the nutrition information and compare the products.
Feel free to look around these company websites and at the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to see how the companies respond to questions about the health of their products.
Duncan Hines Chocolate Frosting
http://www.duncanhines.com/products/frostings/creamy-home-style-classic-chocolate-frosting/
Nutella
http://www.nutellausa.com/about.htm
Frito Lay Tostitos Chips
http://www.fritolay.com/our-snacks/tostitos-multigrain-chips.html
Kettle Brand Tortilla Chips
http://www.kettlebrand.com/our_products/tortilla_chips/#/our_products/tortilla_chips/?pid=43
Vitamin Water
http://www.vitaminwater.com/product?product=energy
Coca Cola
http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/product_nutrition.beverages.164.Coca-Cola-Classic-Small.html
Feel free to look around these company websites and at the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to see how the companies respond to questions about the health of their products.
Duncan Hines Chocolate Frosting
http://www.duncanhines.com/products/frostings/creamy-home-style-classic-chocolate-frosting/
Nutella
http://www.nutellausa.com/about.htm
Frito Lay Tostitos Chips
http://www.fritolay.com/our-snacks/tostitos-multigrain-chips.html
Kettle Brand Tortilla Chips
http://www.kettlebrand.com/our_products/tortilla_chips/#/our_products/tortilla_chips/?pid=43
Vitamin Water
http://www.vitaminwater.com/product?product=energy
Coca Cola
http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/product_nutrition.beverages.164.Coca-Cola-Classic-Small.html
We've learned about how food advertisers target their audiences, how they create ads that make their products appealing and how to verify health claims by checking the nutrition information for a product.
But is it really possible to make HEALTHY food seem cool or delicious or cute?