The Saga Continues: FDA (Sort of) Cracks Down on Misleading Labels

If you're looking to maintain your weight, cut calories or just choose more healthy food options, nutrition labels are a first step in ensuring you know what you're putting into your body. But like all things, food labels are in need of some improvement.

And in the next step of what seems like a long, long process, an FDA press release from Wednesday said that they are sending an open letter to 17 companies telling them to correct "labeling violations" -- a.k.a. food labels that weren't truthful or misleading. The big issue with misleading labels, as we already know, is that they can make you pack on the pounds and leave you scratching your head as to why it happened.

FDA commissioner Dr. Hamburg said that the labeling for 22 of the food products from these 17 companies violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. These products tout claims that say they prevent disease or are healthy when really they don't meet the official definition.

Another disturbing fact? Companies with violations range from children's foods -- such as some Juicy Juice products and Gerber Graduates Puffs -- to Mrs. Smith's Coconut Custard Pie and Salada Naturally Decaffeinated Green Tea, among others.

While the Center for Science in the Public Interest called the FDA's move the "largest crackdown on deceptive labeling in over a decade," we're not so sure that this time is the charm. In October 2009, the FDA encouraged the companies to review their labels for any misleading information -- obviously to little avail. However, the letter sent to companies yesterday was just the next step in telling the companies that the FDA is serious.

Hamberg also expressed a hope that these warning letters would clarify the FDA's expectations for food manufacturers as they review their current labeling. But as far as we can tell, there is no fine or even slap on the wrist if companies fail to comply, but those who received warning letters have 15 business days to inform the FDA of the steps they will take to correct their labeling.

"I think the FDA should absolutely hold manufacturers responsible for what's written on these labels," said Keri Gans, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "They need to be 100 percent accurate. Obviously there needs to be some sort of enforcement process -- it's one thing to say it, but another to enforce it. We need a way in our government to regulate this, but honestly I'm not sure what that would be."

The FDA said it will soon propose guidance regarding calorie and nutrient labeling on the front of food packages and plans to work collaboratively with the food industry to design and implement innovative approaches to front-of-package labeling that can help consumers choose healthy diets.