the fine print that turns sugar water into a wellness journey.
means statements on packaging or ads that assert a food or product benefits your health, ranging from rigorously proven to creatively worded nonsense.
from regulated seriously since the 1990s, when the fda's nutrition labeling and education act of 1990 tried to stop cereal boxes from claiming they cured heart disease; the eu followed with its own approval list in 2006, spawning an entire industry of lawyers translating hope into legally defensible adjectives.
vitaminwater — marketed as healthy despite 33g of sugar per bottle
activia probiotics — dannon paid 45 million dollars over digestive claims, 2010
cheerios cholesterol claim — fda warned general mills it was an unapproved drug claim, 2009