Back to Basics Approach to Product Labeling

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Thursday, 29 October 2009 14:39

Melville, New York, October 2009 – Natural and organic products company Hain Celestial Group, Inc., has called upon all consumer packaged goods companies to adopt truth in labeling standards. These standards would clearly identify product benefits without masking product negatives by simply addressing actual ingredient and health benefits on packaging in a clear and consistent manner. Recent controversy over front-of-package labeling programs and practices has inspired Hain Celestial to assist consumers in making informed purchase decisions. "We have long been troubled by packaging practices that lead consumers to believe that a product is healthful, when natural ingredients are just a very small percentage of the product and are accompanied by detrimental ones," stated Irwin D. Simon, Hain’s president and CEO. "It is time that the consumer packaged goods industry stops practices that create consumer confusion by front-labeling products as natural and healthful. Too often these products contain certain natural ingredients or nutrients, but then they also contain artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives as well as highly processed and refined ingredients, often only disclosed in the ingredient statement in small type on the package back. Misleading labeling also includes labeling a product as 'healthful' despite its containing high levels of sodium, fat and sugar”, he said. Hain Celestial has published a guide to understanding "The 'ABCs' of Natural", which is available at www.ahealthywayoflife.com. The Company calls to action all consumer packaged goods companies to adopt standards for natural and healthful products that use a similar model to the National Organic Program ("NOP") standards published by the United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA"). These standards require any product to be at least 95% organic before stating it is organic, and that the remaining ingredients to only be taken from the NOP approved list. For more information on the ABCs of natural ingredients and nutrition, visit www.ahealthywayoflife.com. For more information on Hain Celestial, visit www.hain-celestial.com. The Hain Celestial Group, headquartered in Melville, is a leading natural and organic products company in North America and Europe. Hain Celestial has been providing "A Healthy Way of Life™" since 1993. For more information, visit www.hain-celestial.com. SOURCE: Hain Celestial Group, Inc. < Prev   Next >