Ratings for Food

We have rating for everything else--- why not food? A grocery store chain, Hannaford Brothers, located in five states has created a system that rates food products based on their health value --- from three stars for healthy (such as fruits) to zero stars for non-healthy (cookies, etc). They have their own nutritionists rate each product--- and according to the NY Times article, The Package May Say Healthy, but This Grocer Begs to Differ, even their own brand name products do not escape their system unfazed.

Of course, there would be many food manufacturers upset by this system --- for example, Healthy Choice, which received no stars under Hannaford’s “Guiding Stars” system, argues they uphold the “F.D.A.’s very stringent requirements for what is healthy.” Not to contradict this, but the F.D.A also approved prescription drugs that were later found to be unsafe and which were consequently pulled off the market.

What is so wrong about having an independent party rate certain food products? Consumer Reports does this for everything else.

The answer is: there is nothing wrong.

However, by using the Guiding Stars system, food manufacturers may be afraid consumers might actually have full knowledge about their products and others may start utilizing this strict (apparently stricter than the F.D.A) system.

(Gasp) The horror!