This bit of info can help you spot common words used as health washing, marketing tactics. (What is health washing?)

When it comes to food and product marketing, companies often employ specific terms to appeal to consumers' health-conscious preferences. This practice, known as health washing, involves using language that implies a product is healthier or more natural than it actually is. Some common words used in health washing marketing tactics include:

• Natural: This word suggests a sense of wholesomeness and healthiness. However, the term "natural" is not regulated and can be misleading as many products labeled as natural may still contain artificial ingredients.

• Organic: While products labeled as organic must meet certain standards set by regulatory bodies, the term can be misleading if consumers assume organic means healthier. Organic products can still be high in sugar, salt, or fat. Additionally, Organic produce may still use some toxic pesticides, which present a separate health issue.

• Clean: The term "clean" has been popular in recent years to imply simplicity and healthfulness. However, there is no official definition of what constitutes a clean product, making it a vague and potentially deceptive term.

• Superfood: This marketing term is often used to describe nutrient-rich foods with supposed health benefits. While some superfoods are indeed nutritious, the term can exaggerate their actual health properties and lead consumers to believe they are a cure-all.

• Image/Marketing: Simply because a brand adorns itself with peaceful images, does not mean they follow through in reality. A company like Chobani is an appropriate example. (Image 1) The imagery they create is peaceful and serene.

  Although, this brand creates the feeling of nature and easy living, this can be deceiving.

  Chobani Strawberry Greek Yogurt Ingredients:

  Cultured nonfat milk, strawberries, cane sugar, water, fruit pectin, natural flavors, guar gum, locust bean gum, fruit and vegetable juice concentrate (for color), lemon juice concentrate.

The ingredients in bold above are not wholesome &/or are not great to eat often. The added sugar is an ingredient you’d want to avoid. Being selective about eating added sugar is of importance for a healthy diet. The sweet danger of sugar.

Or, like Natural flavors, which component need only have a portion of an original substance to call it a “natural flavor”. This leaves the consumer uncertain of what’s completely in their foods. (I will make a future post concerning the remaining ingredients listed above)

FDA Definition of Natural Flavoring

(3) The term natural flavor or natural flavoring means the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional. Natural flavors include the natural essence or extractives obtained from plants listed in §§ 182.10, 182.20, 182.40, and 182.50 and part 184 of this chapter, and the substances listed in § 172.510 of this chapter.

Consumers should be wary of these, and similar terms used in marketing and focus on reading ingredient lists, nutrition labels, and conducting research to make informed decisions about their purchases. Remember you are trying by reading this! You can learn a bit more everyday about what is best for YOUR health!