As I was spreading the Smart Balance margarine on the pancakes I noticed something strange....
Since when is there a Daily Value for DHA and EPA? I wasn't aware that there was one at all. So of course I e-mailed the company. I have e-mailed Smart Balance before and they've always been really great about getting back to me. This time was no different;To answer your question about the EPA/DHA, you are correct in that no standard of omega 3 from the US government has been issued. We base our RDA of omega 3s on a general consensus from Nutritionist/Dietitians and calculate our EPA/DHA based upon the nutritional information of our ingredients.
So the answer indicates that there really isn't a Daily Value for EPA and DHA, so why does it say "Daily Value 160 mg?" Isn't this false advertising? Shouldn't there be some type of asterisk that indicates there is no daily value, but that this is just a general recommendation? I've seen this on fish oil supplements before and it just goes to show you there really isn't much oversight on labels. I would actually argue that a better recommendation would be 500 mg. But, no one asked me :( I mean if you are going to put a "Daily Value" for EPA and DHA on a label, make it a little higher than 160mg, that's simply NOT enough! Even Dr. Oz recommends 600 mg DHA (alone) per day....and who doesn't trust the saint Dr. Oz?!?!
Question: Have you ever been stumped by a label? Have you ever e-mailed the company for answers?
Actually about two months ago I e-mailed a well-known vitamin company to ask where they got their information on Daily Values for children under age 4. They had no clue. They said they would get back to me. I still haven't heard a thing....
16 comments:
wow, I usually feel proud of myself for reading and understanding the labels, ingredients, etc but never really question them like this - I love that you've noticed this and emailed them!
ha! My Dad loves Dr Oz :) I buy that same butter spread and I am a little embarrassed to admit that I've never paid attention to that on the label! Maybe I should be reading a little more closely!
I look at labels carefully for myself- but I never take them too seriously because I know companies make stuff up. Unfortunately I usually don't have enough background knowledge to correct them. I'm glad you do :)
I will say it kind of freaks me up that a company is making up daily values for kids under 4!!! That seems like a dangerous game and parents may not have the knowledge or time to correct this!
wow Gina! I lov your investigative side! I have never emailed or contacted a company I questioned...usually just stayed away from their brand. However, things like THIS , I would never even think to ask! Good job girlie!!
duuuude deej would FLIP over your pork recipe in your last post! i'm showing it to her for sure! she was having a double drool session when we watching a bobby flay pork belly challenge and she even made her own one time!
i feel like i hope i get my omeg 3's in! i eat a lot of fish and salmon anddddddd i'm healthy? hahaha but my dad does take an omega 3 supp!
I agree with you, they should DEFINITELY clarify that there IS NO DV. I also agree that it should be 500-600. If you look at the majority of mg in most fish oil supps., it's in the 5-700 range. Hmm...
Great post!
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I hate misleading labels. Honestly, I really dont trust alot of food labels. I found that they are too mis leading in hopes of just selling more of their product. Its good that you contacted them! If they are going to advertise it they better have something to back it up with. Isnt there a law that says that companies can ballpark their numbers within a 20% cushion? Maybe that is just for calorie counts but I thought I read something somewhere about that...Have you heard anything about that?
That is strange. I use Smart Balance and have never paid particular attention to that. Good for you for reaching out to the company! I wish they'd read your post...It's unfortunate though how companies, even those who are in the interest of one's health, are always just looking for ways to scam more consumers into thinking their product is the best choice.
Hmmm...in my text for the class I teach there is definitely a AI for linoleic and linolenic acid. Interesting...
I didn't know that there was one before teaching, but my text (this year's edition) has one, yep.
P.S. For women 19-30 the omega 6 rec. is 1700 mg/day and the omega 3 rec. is 1600 mg/day. At least that's what my text says...I dunno!
I have never emailed the company because it's not my speciality and to be honest I don't doubt what they put on the labels thinking that someone in the government controls this kind of things. Well, apparentlynthere is not. I am glad that I know you and I know whonto ask to when I have doubts :)
Good for you for emailing them, It is a total lie. Will you continue to use the product? I agree we need more omega 3's that 160 but perhaps that "daily amount" makes their product seem better. Most products I use (olive oil/butter) don't claim much.
Good for you for going the extra mile. I use Smart Balance and NEVER noticed that on the label...shame on me for not paying closer attention.
I've never emailed a company regarding a label, but it sounds like a good idea if you're curious/wondering. I also find it kinda scary that the vitamin company hasn't relpied with an answer yet! And for kids stuff! YIKES
I'm SHOCKED by this make believe daily value!! Then again, I suppose I shouldn't be too shocked, because I know companies do all sorts of messy advertizing things with labels all the time... but co-opting the official term Daily Value for a nutrient for which there isn't a daily value?! Alarming...
Ha! I love how you just email companies when sometimes they don't even have a good answer for you. You keep em on their toes!
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