Fruity Pebbles, Fruit Rollups and fruity candies are just a handful of the myriad products aimed at kids that promote their fruitiness. Not only are fruit flavors appealing, but the use of the word implies that that flavoring is natural, or at least that it has been derived from fruits. Of course, this is not necessarily the case and the Strategic Alliance for Healthy Food and Activity Environments proved it by doing a study entitled "Where's the Fruit?"
The study looked at 37 different products, all product aimed at children, where images of fruit and/or fruit ingredients were pictured on the packaging and found that half of them contained no fruit of any kind. Another 16% contained only "minimal amounts of fruit despite prominent fruit promotions on the packaging." For example, Yoplait's Strawberry Splash Go-Gurt Yogurt contained no actual fruit, nor did Berry Berry Kix.
Using a picture of fruit on a box isn't exactly false advertising, but it is misleading and the study certainly illustrates how important it is to read the ingredients and nutritional information on packaging when shopping for food if you really want to know what you're getting.
A fraking amazing Battlestar Galactica cake
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Pierogies + cheese + onions + kraut = Parmageddon!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-29-2007 @ 12:07PM
Nichole Mitchell said...
One thing I love that is actually made from fruit, is Stretch Island Fruit Leathers. I have been eating these things for years. My mom and I use to have to go to the organic grocery store to pick them up, but now you can get them right in your regular grocery store in the nature section. Try these instead of fruit roll-ups, the next time you want something sweet.
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1-30-2007 @ 12:44AM
thefishie said...
This is a great example of why we should take a little time to read labels. Know what you're buying and make an informed decision to buy it, rather than drop it thoughtlessly in the cart and go.
I discovered the same fruit leathers about 2 years ago at our local Kroger in the organic section, and I agree, they're good!
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1-30-2007 @ 5:32PM
And0 said...
I don't think it's fair to call pictures of fruit misleading. If something is strawberry flavored, how else should that be conveyed? Are names of fruit acceptable but pictures are not?
Shoppers don't expect a package of Twizzlers to be made with %100 organic free-range apples.
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