A dietitian contacted by The Chicago Tribune took issue with advertising the Marathon Smart Stuff Bar, which is sold in some middle and high schools, advertised as a healthy snack in part because less than 35 percent of its calories are from fat (10 percent from saturated fat) and it is less than 35 percent sugar by weight, as a healthy snack. To read the article, click here.
Editor’s Insight: This analysis by a dietitian raises the question: what makes a product “healthy”? There are many definitions. Rather than get involved in debating definitions, foodservice operators can meet their responsibility by providing consumers with nutrition information on what they offer.
The nutrition disclosure rules are viewed by many operators as a burden, but in the long term, these rules will allow operators to give the consumers the nutrition information they need to make their own choices. 03-23-12 By Elliot Maras
