Food Labels That Deserve Your Dollars
To: NATIONAL EDITORS
Contact: Rachel Levy Konik, +1-212-255-8455 x 235, RachelK@rosengrouppr.com, for Consumer Reports; or Lauren Hackett of Consumer Reports, +1-914-378-2561, LHackett@consumer.org
Cage-Free Eggs? Dolphin Safe Tuna?
ShopSmarts Exclusive Guide to Deciphering Food Labeling and Avoiding Rip-Offs
YONKERS, N.Y., March 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Its getting so easy to buy what seems to be better-for-you-and-the-planet versions of your favorite products with organic versions food such as Oreos, Ragu pasta and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese now available. According to a report featured in the April/May 2008 issue of ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, foods certified organic are often worth the extra money, but watch out for other labels that can fake you out, since many appear on products without government regulation or verification from independent agencies.
Labels can make a product sound healthful or planet-friendly, even when it is not, tricking you into wasting money, said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief, ShopSmart. Before you splurge on a product based on a label, check out our guide to which labels you can trust and which dont deserve your dollars.
ShopSmarts feature also includes advice on how to tell whats truly cruelty-free, when it pays to shop at the farmers market, and lists some of the top humane restaurant and supermarket chains.
Whats Worth It and Whats Not?
Meat, poultry, eggs and dairy.Labels including USDA Organic/ Organic, Not Treated with rBGH, No Hormones Administered or Added and Certified Humane are the real deal. Products labeled No Antibiotics Used or Administered/Raised without Antibiotics, No Hormones Administered and Grass-Fed might also be worth it, although there are loopholes that may make them less meaningful. Buyer beware as Free Range, Free Roaming, Cage-Free and Natural have such loose requirements that animals could still have been mistreated.
Coffee and chocolate.Coffee and chocolate marked USDA Organic/ Organic, Fair Trade Certified, Rainforest Alliance Certified and Bird Friendly are worth the extra cost. A label that might not be worth it is Shade-Grown as this label is not associated with a certifying organization.
Seafood.The USDA has not yet developed organic certification standards for seafood, so it never pays to buy organic. Fish could be labeled organic despite the presence of contaminants such as mercury and PCBs. Dolphin Safe and Marine Stewardship Council labels also lack sufficient regulation, yet Farm-Raised and Wild-Caught are government regulated and might be worth it, depending on the type of fish you are buying. For example, opt for wild-caught salmon but farm-raised tilapia.
Fruits, vegetables, beverages, pasta, oils and packaged foods.USDA Organic/Organic is the way to go for produce, but on packaged foods youll see different organic labels: 100% Organic, Organic (95% of ingredients are organic) and Made with Organic Ingredients (70% of ingredients are organic). The label Biodynamic is stricter and worth the extra dollars, but is also tougher to find.
How To Save On Organics
Get more for your money at the grocery store with these seven tips from the experts at ShopSmart.
1. Prioritize purchases.If you have to pick and choose, go for organic produce, baby food, meat, poultry, eggs and dairy. The conventional versions of these tend to be more contaminated with pesticides and potential toxins.
2. Search the Web for coupons.Many major organic brands, including Stonyfield Farm, Annies Homegrown, Organic Valley, Earthbound Farm and Heath Valley, offer coupons at their Web sites.
3. Shop at discount stores and comparison shop for specific items.Large discount chains like Sams Club, Costco, Wal-Mart and Target now carry organics and claim that their prices are lower than those of most other retailers. But be sure to check prices on frequently purchased items at different stores to see which retailer sells them for the lowest price.
4. Look for store-brand organics and bulk packaging.Examples include Whole Foods Markets 365 Organic Everyday Value, Safeways O Organics, Stop & Shops/Giants Natures Promise, Krogers Private Selection Organic, Trader Joes and others that often cost less than national brand names.
5. Buy from bulk bins.You can now find organic rice, flour, beans, granola, nuts, pasta and peanut butter for less in bulk bins at many grocery stores.
6. Join a food co-op.They are independent grocery stores that usually offer local and organic foods. Some have a membership fee and may require members to volunteer at the co-op for a few hours each moth. Members get a discount when they shop. To find a local co- op, go to http://www.coopdirectory.orgor http:// www.localharvest.org/food-coops.
7. Buy lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in season.Thats when prices are lowest. To see what produce is in season near you, click on your state at http://www.sustainabletable.org/shop/eatseasonal. If possible, freeze or preserve produce for later. You may be able to get a discount from local farmers by buying membership in a community-supported agriculture program and sharing it with friends.
AboutShopSmartmagazine:
Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, ShopSmartdraws upon Consumer Reportscelebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. The magazine features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and best of the best lists. ShopSmartis ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmarthas a newsstand price of $4.99 and over a half a million copies of each issue are available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Target, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix.
SOURCE Consumer Reports
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