Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

October 13, 2008 10:13:54 AM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

3 Stars Means It's Healthy, Right?

Posted Dec 1, 07 10:01 PM CST in Arts & Living,  Science & Health 

(Newser) – Stars, numbers, and letter grades are coming to grocery stores near you, the New York Times reports—but experts fear that these health ratings may befuddle shoppers with conflicting information. Consumer advocates are studying three new food ranking systems, while the FDA, approached by a nutrition group, is soliciting ideas about a possible system of its own.

Two ranking systems were unveiled this week—one from a Connecticut doctor who will rate foods from 1 to 100, another from a grocery chain that will give 1 to 3 stars. But one expert says buyers will be baffled if a food gets no stars from one group, but an endorsement from another. “I think we are going to have competing systems until the federal government steps in," he said.

Source New York Times

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon
Juices that received one star on the Guiding Stars system, because of high sugar content, are seen at a Hannaford Supermarket location in this Sept. 3, 2006 file photo, in Latham, N.Y. A gold star rating...   (Associated Press)
Boxes of Kellogg's Special K cereal are seen on a shelf at a supermarket in an Omaha, Neb. in this Jan. 31, 2006 file photo. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)   (Associated Press)
Maria Blanco shops at a local supermarket in Miami, in this July 17, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, file)   (Associated Press)
American cereal are on display at a supermarket. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)   (Associated Press)
Cookies and crackers are seen at a Hannaford Supermarket location in this Sept. 3, 2006 file photo, in Latham, N.Y. The items were not awarded any stars under the Guiding Stars system. A gold star rating...   (Associated Press)
A gold star rating system sign, placed on a shelf containing a variety of oils at Hannaford Bros. supermarket in Falmouth, Maine, promises to help shoppers make healthier choices, claims a spokeswoman...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 1)

Tags

FDA  • Pepsi  • American Heart Association  • healthy eating  • grocery stores  • supermarket  • Kraft Foods  • Unilever


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Science & Health Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »