Video: Food labels deceiving when choosing healthy diet
Friday, Jan. 17, 2014
MANHATTAN -- Gluten-free, organic or free of genetically modified organisms -- or GMO. These are all labels you will be seeing more of in grocery stores, but they might not offer the benefits you are expecting.
"It might not have as much of an effect as consumers might think when they make that purchase," said Mark Haub, associate professor and head of the human nutrition department at Kansas State University.
Haub says that just because the label says a product doesn't contain certain ingredients doesn't mean the product is healthy. General Mills recently announced that it will label original Cheerios as GMO free. And the Grocery Manufacturer's Association is trying to authorize labeling products containing GMOs as a natural product.
No matter what's on the label, Haub says there's still little proof that genetically modified organisms impact our health.
"We, unfortunately, don't have very much data to say that eating this food product is or is not beneficial from a health perspective," Haub said.
If you're looking to lose weight or change your diet, consult with your doctor, who will know what's best for you.