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| Contact: Deborah Sturm Rausch (518) 473-9472 | For Immediate Release: February 1, 2008 |
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New York State Consumer Protection Board Releases Food Labeling Guide to Help Consumers Prepare for the Super Bowl and Maintain Better Health |
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With the Super Bowl “spreads” before us this weekend, the New York State
Consumer Protection Board (CPB) today released its new Guide to Food
Terminology and Consumer Information pamphlet:
You Are What You Eat!
Written by the CPB with the assistance of the NYS Department of Agriculture
and Markets, the brochure provides educational information about food
product labeling in an effort to help consumers make dietary decisions and
spend their money wisely in the supermarket.
“As many of us are planning and preparing our Super Bowl ‘spread,’ we hope consumers will not totally toss out their New Year’s resolution to eat healthier, and pay attention to the cost and ingredients of the various foods on their shopping lists, said Mindy A. Bockstein, Chairperson and Executive Director of the CPB. “Certain items, like ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ foods, may command a higher price, so it’s important that people understand what these terms actually mean before they spend their hard-earned money. Just as we keep score in football, we are encouraging people to keep score of the contents of their food.” Only Thanksgiving surpasses Super Bowl Sunday for one-day food consumption in America, according to the American Institute of Food Distribution. About.com’s Super Bowl “Fun Facts” reports that approximately 8 million pounds of guacamole and about 14,500 tons of chips are consumed on Super Bowl Sunday and the sale of antacids increase by 20% on the following Monday. According to statisticians, this Sunday people will also eat about 4,000 tons of popcorn and at least 1.2 million chicken wings, among other “party” foods. With all this food being consumed, raising consumer consciousness is even more timely and important. While labels on food are required to provide consumers with factual information, there are numerous terms that are often confusing to shoppers. Food labels provide a list of ingredients, instructions for safe handling and storage, identification of the manufacturer/and or distributor of the product as well as nutritional content. Specific labeling requirements are set forth by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may be found on their website at www.fda.gov. New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said, “With the number of different food labels out there, the Consumer Protection Board is once again stepping up to the plate to help New Yorkers to make more informed choices. I think this information will be extremely useful to those consumers who are seeking the best value for their personal and dietary needs.” Consumers are faced with more and more grocery items on the shelves and those who are looking for a concise explanation of commonly used terminology such as “natural” vs. “organic” or “light” vs. “free” will find this new resource helpful. By reading labels and knowing what the ingredients and terms on food items and beverages actually mean, consumers can also keep score of their budget. According to CNN Money, in 2006 Americans spent an average of $5,340 for food each year and experts predict that no less than $55 million will be spent on food for the big game. “You Are What You Eat!” is organized into sections, Food, Milk Products and Alcoholic Beverages, with listings in each section presented in alphabetical order to be consumer-friendly. Information about food additives, code dating and food storage is also presented, along with descriptions of natural, organic and other terms that may cause price differences. The full brochure may be found on the CPB’s website: www.nysconsumer.gov. The Consumer Protection Board, established in 1970 by the New York State Legislature, is the State's top consumer watchdog and think tank. The CPB's core mission is to protect New Yorkers by publicizing unscrupulous and questionable business practices and product recalls; conducting investigations and hearings; enforcing the “Do Not Call Law”; researching issues; developing legislation; creating consumer education programs and materials; responding to individual marketplace complaints by securing voluntary agreements; and, representing the interests of consumers before the Public Service Commission and other State and federal agencies. To file a consumer complaint with the NYS Consumer Protection Board (CPB), call our toll-free hotline at 800-697-1220 or visit CPB’s website at www.nysconsumer.gov. In addition to the online complaint form, the website is home to important consumer safety information. To join the CPB’s Do Not Call Reminder list, send an e-mail to CPB's Do Not Call Reminder list |