Health claims on food labels are often misleading and unsubstantiated by science. Food companies claim drug-like benefits for their packaged goods, even though many of them are unhealthy or deleterious to health. Recent examples include Kellog’s claims of boosting immunity with a sugary cereal and POM Wonderful’s claims that the product could prevent prostate cancer, heart disease and erectile dysfunction. Walk the aisles of any supermarket and it’s easy to find examples of products claiming they can reduce the risk of cancer, boost brain health and ward off colds.

Big food companies are trying to blur the lines between medicine and nutrition, leading the consumer into thinking their product does something it does not. Although regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration, have started to crack down on the marketers, their approach is mainly reactionary. Too much work goes into trying to halt the marketer’s claims after the fact; a proactive stance would not only save these agencies time, but benefit the consumer.

A recent article in Forbes notes that, "Until there are very specific standards for what food companies can and cannot say under what circumstances, unproven claims are going to continue and accelerate. There is just too much money to be made."

Urge the Food and Drug Administration to take a proactive stance and set some standards by banning all front-of-packaging health claims unless they are scientifically valid.