Speaking of Psychology Choosing foods wisely (SOP4)
Dec 16, 2013
Lara Spiteri-Cornish, a marketing and advertising professor who studies how foods are marketed, warns that fortified and “functional” products can mislead health-conscious consumers. She discusses how marketers position these foods, why processed fortification is not a substitute for produce, and how diet foods and convenience culture can backfire on eating habits.
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Functional Foods Are Largely A Marketing Response
- Functional foods are mainly a marketing response to growing consumer health concerns rather than a pantry of proven benefits.
- Marketers fortify products and promote health claims to reassure buyers and drive sales, leveraging fear of illness to sell convenience.
Most Fortified Foods Are Nutritionally Weak
- Not all fortified foods deliver meaningful nutrition; a minority are nutritionally proven while most are high-calorie, high-sugar products with added vitamins.
- Examples include cholesterol-lowering spreads and some probiotic yogurts versus sugary cereal bars like Cocoa Pops with added fiber.
Avoid Replacing Produce With Fortified Snacks
- Do not substitute functional foods for whole fruits, vegetables, and whole grains because nutrient source matters as much as the nutrient itself.
- Use fortified items only as additions to an already balanced diet, not as replacements for real produce.