15 Criteria Experts Say We Should Use to Assess Claims Made About Foods

Food labels can be a maze of confusing claims that often mislead consumers. To make informed choices about our nutrition, we need a set of reliable criteria to evaluate these assertions critically. 

We’ve consulted Registered Dietitians to understand their methods for determining which food-related statements hold merit. Their expertise forms the foundation of this comprehensive list of criteria, designed to help you make smart decisions about the foods you consume.

The following 15 points will serve as your roadmap through the complex landscape of food labeling and marketing. This guide aims to equip you with the tools to assess food claims accurately and confidently. 

Let’s examine each point in detail to enhance your ability to make informed dietary choices.

1. Emphasize Whole Foods

When evaluating food claims, prioritize whole, minimally processed ingredients. Registered Dietitians consistently recommend focusing on fruits, vegetables, grains, and lean proteins, as these foods are more likely to deliver the health benefits advertised. 

Research published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine supports this approach, highlighting that a whole-foods, plant-based diet effectively prevents and reverses multiple chronic conditions. 

The study suggests that dietary improvements can prevent up to 80% of chronic diseases, underscoring the crucial role of diet in overall health outcomes. This emphasis on whole foods provides a solid foundation for assessing the validity of health claims on food products.

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2. Listen to Your Body

Your body often serves as the most reliable indicator of a food’s benefits. Registered Dietitians stress the importance of paying attention to how you feel after consuming certain foods. 

Abbey Sharp, a registered dietitian, advocates for intuitive eating and understanding individual responses to food rather than relying solely on generalized health claims. This approach encourages you to become more attuned to your body’s signals and reactions to different foods. 

By listening to these cues, you can better assess which foods truly benefit your health and well-being, regardless of the claims made on their packaging.

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3. Understand Labeling Regulations

Grasping the intricacies of food labeling regulations empowers you to make more informed decisions. While food labels are regulated, not all claims carry equal weight or meaning. 

Familiarizing yourself with terms like “organic,” “natural,” and “non-GMO” is crucial for interpreting food labels accurately. The Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, part 101, outlines the rules regarding nutrient content claims on food labels as set forth by the FDA. 

This knowledge allows you to decipher the true meaning behind various label claims and assess their relevance to your dietary needs and health goals.

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4. Conduct Personal Research

Don’t limit yourself to the information provided on food packaging. Registered Dietitians recommend conducting your own research to verify the legitimacy of ingredients and claims. 

Anne Hytrek, a Registered Dietitian, offers valuable insights in her guide “A Dietitian’s Tips For Reading Food Labels.” She emphasizes looking beyond the front of food packages, which often feature enticing but potentially misleading health claims. 

This proactive approach to gathering information ensures you’re not swayed solely by marketing tactics and allows you to make choices based on factual, nutritional data.

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5. Evaluate the Source of Information

The credibility of the source making a food claim significantly impacts its reliability. Claims made by qualified health professionals carry more weight than those made by marketers or celebrities. 

For those seeking clarity on food labels and claims, consulting a credentialed nutrition professional, such as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), proves invaluable. Many grocery stores now employ RDNs specifically to assist customers in understanding nutrition labels and claims. 

This expert guidance can help you distinguish between scientifically-backed statements and marketing hype, leading to better-informed food choices.

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6. Look for Third-Party Testing and Scientific Support

Claims validated third-party testing or backed peer-reviewed scientific studies generally offer greater reliability. 

The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 requires supplement manufacturers to disclose the presence of major allergens like milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. 

Third-party testing helps verify accurate allergen labeling and ensures the integrity of other nutritional claims. This additional layer of verification provides consumers with more confidence in the accuracy of food labels and the claims made about various products.

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7. Assess Compliance and Approval Regulatory Authorities

Foods meeting the standards set regulatory bodies like the FDA or USDA typically warrant more trust. The FDA provides health claim guidelines that define legally acceptable health claims, establishing a minimum standard for assessing these assertions. 

Understanding which claims have received regulatory approval helps you distinguish between thoroughly vetted statements and potentially unsubstantiated marketing claims. 

This knowledge enables you to make more informed decisions about the foods you choose to consume based on their compliance with established health and safety standards.

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8. Avoid Claims Implying Disease Prevention or Treatment

Exercise caution with foods claiming to prevent or treat diseases. These assertions often lack substantial evidence or exaggerate potential benefits. 

Julie Garden-Robinson, Registered Dietitian, a Food and Nutrition Specialist, advises skepticism towards products advertised as “cures” for serious diseases like cancer, heart disease, or arthritis. 

She also warns against products claiming to address multiple unrelated conditions. This approach encourages a critical examination of health claims, prompting you to seek scientific evidence rather than accepting marketing promises at face value.

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9. Seek Specificity and Relevance

Approach vague claims like “boosts energy” or “supports heart health” with caution. Specific claims rooted in solid evidence typically offer more credibility. 

The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) of 1990 mandated accurate nutritional information on most packaged foods sold in the United States. This legislation empowered the FDA to regulate nutrient content and health claims on food packaging. 

Understanding this framework helps you identify precise, relevant claims backed regulatory standards, enabling you to make more informed dietary choices.

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10. Research Scientific Studies

Claims supported well-designed scientific studies hold more credibility than those based on anecdotal evidence. Registered Dietitian Toby Amidor, MS, RD, emphasizes the importance of seeking out peer-reviewed studies to verify health claims. 

This approach encourages you to look beyond marketing materials and get into the scientific basis for food-related assertions. 

Familiarizing yourself with reputable nutrition research empowers you to critically assess the validity of various health claims and make evidence-based decisions about your diet.

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11. Be Wary of Trendy Ingredients

Approach newly popular ingredients, such as acai or quinoa, with a discerning eye. These trendy foods may not always live up to their hype. 

Keri Gans, Registered Dietician and author of The Small Change Diet, notes that many hyped foods lack substantial scientific backing despite their popularity. 

This cautious approach to food trends encourages you to look beyond marketing buzz and consider the actual nutritional value and proven benefits of new ingredients before incorporating them into your diet.

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12. Check for Artificial Additives

Health benefit claims often lose credibility when products contain artificial additives, preservatives, or sweeteners. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has raised concerns about artificial food additives, linking many to various health issues. 

They argue these additives may contribute to behavioral problems in children and pose potential carcinogenic risks. CSPI has actively petitioned the FDA to ban certain artificial food dyes, citing inadequate testing and potential harm. 

This information underscores the importance of scrutinizing ingredient lists and considering the overall composition of foods, not just their marketed health benefits.

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13. Consider the Processing Level

The extent of food processing significantly impacts its nutritional value. View claims about the health benefits of highly processed foods with skepticism. 

Registered Dietitian Amy Richter, explains in a recent study that extensive processing often diminishes a food’s nutritional integrity and may introduce harmful additives. This insight encourages you to prioritize less processed options and critically evaluate claims made about heavily modified foods. 

Understanding the relationship between processing and nutrition helps you make choices aligned with your health goals.

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14. Examine Serving Size

Health claims can be misleading if based on unrealistic serving sizes. Always check if the claimed benefits relate to a practical portion. 

Numerous studies have shown that non-standardized serving size presentations can compromise the usability of nutrition information, making informed dietary decisions challenging. This criterion prompts you to consider the context of health claims and assess their relevance to your actual consumption habits. 

Paying attention to serving sizes ensures you accurately gauge the potential benefits or drawbacks of including a particular food in your diet.

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15. Factor in Your Dietary Needs

A food beneficial for one person might not suit another due to individual dietary needs and health conditions. Renae Khalik, Registered Dietitian and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, emphasizes that personalized nutrition is key to making appropriate food choices. 

This approach recognizes that dietary requirements vary among individuals based on factors such as age, gender, health status, and activity level. Considering your specific nutritional needs when evaluating food claims helps you tailor your diet effectively. 

This personalized perspective ensures that you select foods that truly support your health and well-being, rather than relying on generic claims. 

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Make Empowered Choices 

Armed with these criteria, you’re now better equipped to evaluate food claims critically. Remember, informed decisions about your nutrition stem from a combination of scientific knowledge, personal awareness, and careful scrutiny of marketing messages. 

Trust your instincts, consult reliable sources, and prioritize whole foods. As you apply these guidelines, you’ll develop a keener eye for distinguishing genuine nutritional benefits from empty promises. 

Your journey towards healthier eating starts with questioning claims and making choices that align with your personal health goals. Stay curious, stay informed, and let these criteria guide you towards a more nutritious and satisfying diet.

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