What is healthwashing? Thanks for asking!

We’ve already talked about greenwashing, pinkwashing and sportswashing in past episodes. Well even the world of health doesn’t escape from cynical marketing practices. Let’s talk about healthwashing.

The term covers a pretty wide range of practices, but it’s most commonly associated with the food industry. Manufacturers often overplay the addition of certain nutritious items in their products, implying that there are real health benefits to be gained.

You might see labels using buzzwords such as : “contains natural flavours” or “made with real fruit” while in reality the products may actually be comparable to other processed foods. 

This can lead consumers into a false sense of security, as shown by a study from the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2017. Participants surveyed were less likely to look for nutrition information when a nutrient claim was shown on packaging, and often ended up selecting a less healthy product as a result.

What exactly does it consist of? Well, that’s not great, but it’s still pretty common in the grand scheme of things, isn’t it? Well if it’s as simple as reading a label correctly, we should be OK, shouldn’t we? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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