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Reach for the (nutritional) stars!

Recall in the DocTalk Webcast on nutrition how we spoke in general, about steering clear of any commercially prepared foods?  I know, nearly impossible, but here's a great story why.
 
On November 6, the NY Times front page had a story of the large New England grocery store, Hannaford Brothers, convening and independent group of nutrition experts, "rated" the nutritional value of ALL items in its stores with a 0 stars to 3 stars system (most nutritional like fruits/vegetables/whole grains)
 
The findings?
    75% of all items received 0 stars
   
By category, which types of foods had highest to lowest proportion of items garnering any stars?
    produce - 94%
    cereals - 55%
    seafood - 43%
    meat - 24%
    dairy - 18%
    soups - 12%
    deli - 8%
    bakery - 5%.
 
How about "Lean Cuisine" and "Healthy Choice" entrees - nope, zero stars (too much salt/sodium).  How about a wide number of other "healthy" choices - at least which said so on the label?  Ditto!
 
"A lot of claims we see out there are 'puffery'", said the director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Nutrition (but they can't and don't regulate!).
 
So buyer beware, read those labels and be a savvy consumer.  We will see if the star system takes off - in the meantime read the BACK not front of the package!
 
Dr Mike 
Published Nov 08 2006, 03:22 PM by mparkinson

Comments

 

DonTheOnlyJuan said:

Very interesting,  most would be persuaded to think that Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice would live up to their names, looks can be and are deceiving!!!
November 21, 2006 4:55 PM
 

dvliao said:

Agreed, it's scary to think that 75% of the items in grocery stores are NOT nutritious. No wonder the average American has such a hard time eating healthfully; there are too many temptations and competing foods with bright colors and words that lure us in!
November 24, 2006 12:12 PM
 

PrettyMonke03 said:

I would love to see the star system actually put in place.  Even the labels can sometimes be confusing.  Take the bread aisle for example -not all brown bread is whole wheat.  But unless you know what you're looking for, it's easy to get fooled into thinking you're buying whole wheat.
November 25, 2006 11:46 PM
 

Dugie said:

I feel the same, dvliao. It's scary to think that 75% of grocery store foods aren't nutritious. That's probaby why so many Americans are overweight. It takes time, effort, AND education to read the labels & make healthy choices.
November 26, 2006 9:20 PM
 

Irish1 said:

I think it is best to go with as little processing as possible.  Fruits, vegetables, etc. and then cook the items myself.
November 29, 2006 7:16 PM
 

dalpra said:

This makes it difficult to eat healthy when 75% of the food items don't qualify.
December 4, 2006 11:37 AM
 

Millameter said:

They always tell you to pick foods from the outer aisles of the store because the inner aisles are the ones packed with the bad stuff!!!
December 5, 2006 5:51 PM
 

sandy01 said:

Man!  I have to watch my "healthy" choices in my "fast meals".  Thanks for the reminder!
December 6, 2006 12:34 AM
 

Irish1 said:

We had a holiday party.  While we did have some Christmas cookies, the "stars" of the show were a huge plate of various fruits and another big plate with vegetables.  Several guests thanked us, emphasizing that, "The fruit saved them!"  It "saved" us, too. Thanks for the suggestions.
December 31, 2006 12:35 PM
 

Molly said:

It is amazing what most of us think of as 'healthy' and what portrayed as 'healthy'.  Though it does seem that more and more people are starting to pay attention.  And even if you know what's healthy it's often far too difficult to alway eat that way, especially if you travel.  It definatly takes some planning, at home or away, but it's worth it!  And it isn't necessarily even just what we're eating, but how it's being prepared.
January 19, 2007 5:55 PM
 

Molly said:

Could you answer a question for me?  I see that cereals had the second highest percentage on the list for stars, but I've recently read that due to the process by which cereal is made not only is it not 'healthy' (regardless of the brand/type), it's actually unhealthy.  What are your thoughts.  The report I read said there had been a study done using rats and that the rats that were fed cereal died faster than those that were fed the box or even those that weren't fed at all.
January 26, 2007 5:40 PM

About mparkinson

Dr. Mike, EVP and Chief Health and Medical Officer, is responsible for the strategic direction and health care management at Lumenos. Formerly Director of Medical Programs and Resources for the U.S. Air Force, he was responsible for policy and planning for the Medical Service with over 2 million beneficiaries, 70 facilities and a $4 billion budget. A retired colonel, he served as deputy director of Air Force Medical Operations and chief of preventive medicine. He is President-Elect of the American College of Preventive Medicine and a member of the Institute of Medicine Committee reviewing NASA prevention programs, the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board. Mike is a recipient of the Air Force Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Service Award of the American College of Preventive Medicine and Distinguished Recent Graduate Award from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. He received his A.B. from Cornell University, M.D. from George Washington University, family practice training at the UCLA and his M.P.H., preventive medicine residency and chief residency at the Johns Hopkins University.

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