Misleading labels target
of recent FDA campaign
By BETH HARMEN
Collegian Staff Writer
"Cholesterol-free" claims are the
latest targets of the Food and Drug
Administration's campaign against
deceptive labeling.
With manufacturers making more
misleading food content claims "it
is difficult for consumers to deci
pher the difference between fat-free
and cholesterol-free," said P.M. Kris-
Etherton, associate dean for research
and graduate studies in the College
of Health and Human Devel
opment.
"Consumers are being misled," said
Elaine McDonnell, a nutritionist at
the University's Nutrition Center.
"Something can have no choles
terol and be high in fat."
Until the FDA implements the
Nutrition Labeling Act of 1990, foods
high in saturated fatty acids, but low
in cholesterol, may use the "low
cholesterol" descriptor, McDonnell
added.
The NLEA requires mandatory
labeling of most processed foods
under FDA jurisdiction.
"Consumers do not understand the
relationship between cholesterol and
MID SEMESTER SPECIAL!
&EL ROY WALK'S
236 W. Hamilton Avenue
Hamilton Square Shopping Center HEALTH & FITNESS State College, PA 16801
Now through October 31 bring a friend in and finish off
your semester in a healthier state of mind & body.
All Programs Included:
• Aerobics
• Cross Training - PACE Program
•Cardiovascular Facilities
• Free Weights
• Selectorized Equipment
• Tanning Facilities
• Locker/Shower/Sauna Facilities
r(2 - •
FREE Cider and Stickies provided by Ye Old College Diner
" K
Present
From San Francisco
mom
"ROCK-A-BOOGIE"
Dance Band
Returns!
WEDNESDAY OCT. 16th
9:00 PM Showtime
* 10 CENT WINGS *
fat," Kris-Etherton said. "They think
that a food labeled low-cholesterol
is also low in fat and saturated fat."
The descriptor misleads con
sumers into thinking they can eat a
lot of a product, Kris-Etherton said.
"Even the educated consumer has
to be careful when looking at labels,"
McDonnell said. "A product could
be cholesterol-free but could raise
blood-cholesterol level because of the
fat content."
Although FDA has tried to lessen
abuses of adjectival nutrient
descriptors, some manufacturers
continue to make absurd claims, said
Christine Lewis, chief of the FDA's
Clinical Research Section of the
Clinical Nutrition Board.
"Congress was angry when it heard
about cholesterol-free bananas,"
Lewis said. "Bananas are a natu
rally cholesterol-free food."
Food manufacturers may not claim
absence of a nutrient unless it is
usually present, it is substituted, or
it assists consumers, Lewis said.
Printing the absence of a nutri
ent even though it never existed in
the product could inform unedu
cated consumers, said John Miln-
- - COME HOME TO
THE LION
*Lion Ambassadors is sponsored by the Alumni
Association & the Office of University Development
SP
BAR
NITE
CLUE
come help the Lion
Ambassadors celebrate
FRIDAY, OCT. 18 FROM
9:30 - 10:30 P.M.
at the Nittany Lion Shrine
Hear Bruce Murphy tell the
Legend of Mt. Nittany, Sue
Paterno tell the history of
the guarding of the Lion,
and the Singing Lions
perform Penn State songs.
er, head of the University's nutrition
department.
"Many people don't realize that
animal tissue is the source of cho
lesterol," Milner said. "Some peo
ple don't realize that bananas never
had cholesterol, and if you didn't
know it, then a (cholesterol-free) label
could help you."
Some claims sound more
impressive than they are, said Melissa
Martilotta, director of the Univer
sity's Nutrition Clinic.
"A food that is labeled 80 per
cent fat-free may still be high in fat,"
she said. "Such claims refer to the
percent of the product's weight that
is fat." In terms of calories,
40 percent or more may be fat.
The NLEA allows "claims" on food
labels, Lewis said, but the FDA must
now come up with definitions.
A requirement of the act states that
definitions for "free," "low," "light,"
"reduced," "less" and "high" will be
created.
The FDA knows it is difficult to
provide understandable and useful
information to consumers through
simplified descriptive terms on labels,
Lewis added.
Foods labeled 'fat-free' and 'cholesterol-free' can be misleading to consumers, said P.M. Kris-Etherton. The labs
can lead people to falsely believe they can eat a lot of a product, thinking it is healthy.
c oninass ., your twoßtotatt
• •
•
3ffider3o: •
4515150‘,.., •
• • -b l ea k* 45,4 , woutet *
ygo. !Owl
arid. 2) loontett,
about. unortgeo and
daftinnen.* Math*
1:4-:.spotentiew '1.°11014."31.19F.:1"7"7041:;?mbi1thir
• Ittet::.)100
./,%.'•....••• • --
Speaking On
"Penn State University's Graduate Program in
Wed., Oct.
General Meeting To Follow Presentation
Refreshments Served
New Members Welcome!! All
THE SYMBOL OF PRIDE
Astronauts and artists, educators and executives, scientists and surgeons --
Alumni Fellows all. They are Penn State's greatest resource, those professionally
eminent graduates whose generosity and talents are tapped year after year as Penn
State bestows upon them the title Alumni Fellow, asking only that each Fellow return
to Alma Mater to share a bit of know-how with others who will follow. It's a lifetime
commitment the Alumni Association and the Council of Academic Deans are proud
to be a part of
...................
ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION
presents
Dr. Irwin Feller
Professor of Economics
Policy Analysis"
16 7:00 p.m.
Fri7 I MM . :M
William F. Christ '73g, was an Air Force captain who became a sys
tems analyst for the Navy Department and then began a corporate career
that would span two decades and put him into the front office as pres
ident of Hershey International, a post he has held since 1988. Starting as
a systems analyst for Hershey Chocolate USA, Christ moved through posts
dealing with budgets and financial analysis before becoming a vice president
in 1979. His bachelor's degree is from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and
he has studied international management in Switzerland.
The Daily Collegian Wednesday, Oct. IS, 1991
~ ~~~ k
~~:R>
~ ~ \~
141;01
PIM Penn State
Alumni Association
203 Willard
Y. Atkinson