FDA to Crack Down on 'Smart Choices' Food Labels

Reading food labels has become something of an art form. And even if you really know your stuff, you still have to scrutinize the labels to make sure that healthy-sounding badge on the front really means you're making a healthful choice.

That's about to change. According to Reuters, the FDA is looking into labels like "Smart Choices," which the FDA found was displayed on foods with up to almost 50 percent sugar -- definitely misleading. If the FDA finds that any of the claims violate federal rules, they "will take enforcement action against any egregious examples," FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg tells Reuters.

The non-profit Center for Science in the Public Interest points out that simplified front-of-label symbols and nutrition information would greatly enable people to make better choices about their diets. When foods like Cocoa Puffs, Fruit Loops and Fudgsicles have symbols saying they're good choices, one has to wonder what constitutes a bad choice.

Hamburg also told Reuters that the FDA is working on regulations to define the criteria needed to make front of label claims. They're trying to determine whether it would be helpful to consumers to have one symbol available to help them quickly analyze a product.

What do you think? Do the labels on the front of packages need to be regulated? Or should people base their decisions on the ingredient lists and nutritional chart on the back?

For more on the FDA's regulations, check out this post on why the FDA was right and "Illegally Thin" was wrong.