Do You Know a Healthy Product from an Unhealthy One?

Are you more likely to buy a food product when its label says certain health-related buzzwords like “antioxidants” or “gluten free?” And could you pick out a healthy product from an unhealthy one — just from looking at the nutrition information?

A new study conducted at the University of Houston attempts to answer those questions and casts a critical eye on health-related buzzwords designed to mislead consumers.

“Truth, Lies, and Packaging” calls into questions food marketing that makes nebulous health claims based on a product containing “whole grain” or “antioxidants,” or being “gluten-free.” We talk with Temple Northup, the study’s principal investigator and assistant professor at the Jack Valenti School of Communication at the University of Houston.