Does it say "healthy" on the package? The truth hiding behind food

A new study from Cornell University, published in Nature Food, examined 145,609 food and beverage products launched in the US between 2015 and 2024. It found that about two-thirds were classified as having a less healthy nutritional profile, even though more than half carried health claims. The researchers warn: reducing one component, such as fat, may come at the expense of an increase in sugar or sodium.

A new study from Cornell University in the United States, published today (Thursday) in the scientific journal Nature Food, examined 145,609 food and beverage products launched in the US between 2015 and 2024. The researchers compared the health claims on the packaging to the actual nutritional composition, using a British model that assesses quality based on sugar, sodium, saturated fat, energy, and other components. The main finding: about two-thirds of the products were classified as having a less healthy nutritional profile, even though about half of them carried health claims. However, products with claims sometimes had a better composition than those without claims, but the advantage was not consistent and varied by product type. One notable finding: in some cases, reducing one component like fat was accompanied by an increase in sugar or sodium. Thus, a "low-fat" product may appear healthier, but its overall composition is not necessarily better. The researchers recommend checking the nutrition facts panel instead of relying on front-of-package labeling. The study was conducted in the US and did not directly examine products in Israel.