Seals of approval

You’ll find them on every supermarket shelf – products labelled with ticks of approval, endorsements and logos. But, what do the labels mean?

Heart foundation tick

Foods with the tick meet criteria for fat, saturated fat, trans fat and sodium. Some product categories, such as muesli bars, also have rules for fibre and energy. Manufacturers pay a fee to use the tick – so, although the product is as good as it claims, other products without the tick may be as good or better. Check the nutrition labels to compare fat and sodium levels.

The tick isn’t an excuse to eat as much as you like. Although the tick is on some pies, ice-cream and sausages, these are still high-fat, high-kilojoule foods. They might be a healthier choice than other brands but still aren’t foods for everyday eating.

GI logo

The glycaemic index (GI) measures how quickly, and by how much, a food containing carbohydrate raises your blood glucose levels. A food with a high GI causes blood glucose to rise and fall quickly, while low GI foods have a slower more sustained effect.

Companies pay to use the GI logo, but it doesn’t mean the food is low GI. Any food can use the logo if its GI has been tested, although it must meet certain nutritional criteria and contain at least 10g of carbohydrate. A low GI is 55 and below, medium 56 to 69 and high 70 or more.

Don’t judge a food on its GI alone. Energy, fat, saturated fat, sodium, and fibre content are all important.

Organic

Products claiming to be organic must contain at least 95% organically produced and processed ingredients. Look for certification from a reputable organics organisation. If you’re buying New Zealand food and you see “Bio-Gro”, “Demeter”, “Asure Quality Organic” or “OrganicFarmNZ” you can be confident of the organic claims. It’s trickier with imported products. Check out www.ifoam.org for a full list.

Plunket and Wattie's

Most Wattie’s baby food carries the Plunket logo. Plunket gets paid for this and a panel of nutrition experts is involved in the development of the food. But other brands can’t use the Plunket logo, even if they are as good or better.

Cause-related marketing 

The deal is purely financial. A product doesn’t have to meet any particular standards. Don’t be fooled that it’s an assurance of quality or an endorsement.