Campbell Soup Company and the American Heart Association (AHA) were sued by a consumer who claimed the AHA fraudulently certifies the company’s products as healthy.Oh the irony, eh?
The association labels more than 30 of Campbell’s Healthy Request soups as “heart-healthy” even though a can has at least six times as much sodium as the organization recommends, according to a complaint filed yesterday by Kerry O’Shea in federal court in Camden, New Jersey. Those soups display the AHA’s “Heart-Check Mark” logo, which the organization licenses, according to the complaint.
Campbell, the world’s largest soup maker, and the heart association “falsely represent” that products with the logo have cardiovascular benefits lacking in other soups, according to the complaint.
Who's next? The Heart Truth® campaign, NHLBI, and the Coca Cola Company?
- Wes
Why would ANYONE rely on ANYTHING
ReplyDeleteon ANY label? If you want to limit sodium to 1500 just read the sodium content of every can.. or better yet make your OWN soup and be sure there is no salt in it. Especially as reading the sodium and other nutritional information is suspect as well. Personal responsibility..
You can't beat it.
When I first read the title I thought "Oh please" but after reading the bases of the complaint I can see their point. Still everyone knows the no more than a teaspoon of sodium a day rule. At what point are responsible to take control of our health and read the label?
ReplyDeleteObviously, organizations like the AHA should consider their mission, and I don't believe that mission should be "anything for a buck". People wonder why professional's opinions don't get the respect they deserve. Just look at the convenient business partnerships like the AHA and Campbell's soup.
ReplyDeleteWhy should they?
I think this extends to physicians on company advisory committees, and research partnerships.
The bottom line is the responsibility has to reside with the consumer, but legitimate professional caregivers with no special interests might prove helpful as well if they exist.
I've heard that the AHA is in the process of revising their Heart Check mark certification criteria to be more stringent and more in line with their newest sodium guidelines. But it will likely take time to phase this in - giving companies with current Heart Check foods time to either phase out their use of the mark or change their product to meet whatever the new requirements may be.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it just ironic that the professional societies (bloated with the experts who decry the overuse and outright abuse of testing/procedures as greedy private physicians filling their pockets) are guilty of profiteering by deceiving the public trust.
ReplyDeleteEat drink and be merry - just don't overdo.
ReplyDelete#thatsallyouneedtoknow #seetheforestnotthetrees
#officialguidelinesarecrap
-SCRN
We should all be responsible in what exactly we choose to eat. Reading the label on food products is something everyone should do just so they can be aware of what exactly is going into their body.
ReplyDeleteI observed that a long time ago. What took so long for somebody to sue? I've taken people shopping and pointed out the issue to them. Heart healthy? Crap! Best food is fresh and homemade so you can ensure preparation methods and ingredients for health. I don't add salt or perhaps one small shake if I ever use it in cooking. Plus the way I swell, I prefer to stay away from Lasix. Even more incentive to not buy canned foods--and ALWAYS read labels!
ReplyDelete