Labeling program that said Cocoa Krispies are healthy is ending

Were those Cracker Jacks really a healthy snack, or did a bunch of food-industry heavyweights like Kellogg, PepsiCo and General Mills just pull a fast one on us? Either way, the consortium behind the "Smart Choices" food-labeling program has voluntarily decided to end the marketing-driven tactic. (Manufacturers that are using the green-check-mark seal of approval on their packages can continue to do so, meaning Cocoa Krispies could still attempt to sell themselves as "better for you," but no new products will get the label.) Without calling shenanigans on Smart Choices by name, the Food and Drug Administration said there are too many labeling systems with inconsistent criteria. Consumers, as a result, could be confused and misled on their trips to the grocery store about what's healthy and what's not. The agency is threatening to crack down on inaccurate labeling, though it's short on specifics. In the face of that announcement, Smart Choices basically shut down operations while the FDA investigates. Meantime, here's the long and the short of it: Keep reading the microscopic ingredients list to decide if a product really is junk. And yes, stuffed-crust cheese pizza with extra cheese probably qualifies.

—Posted by T.L. Stanley