Although labels on packaged products are meant to inform, most consumers end up confused. The quantities of fat, protein and carbohydrate listed on labels is confusing and all the pretentious badges claiming high this and low that are confusing.Consumers are expected to understand about kilojoules, salt and sugar intake, what causes high cholesterol and the origins and effects of gluten.The diet and food industries, amongst others, have rendered many foods taboo over the years and promoted others out of all proportion to their real value. People have been encouraged to seek low-fat foods; then Paleo diets drove people to increase their protein consumption and more recently, too many carbohydrates have been blamed for rising obesity rates. When food scientists discovered fats had more calories per gram than proteins or carbohydrates and heart disease and weight problems were the consequence of over-consumption of saturated fats, the food industry was quick to respond: packaging was soon emblazoned with low-fat and fat-free labels. When people were advised to cut out carbohydrates and eat more meat like cavemen to increase their protein intake, they may have lost weight, but the lack of fibre created other problems.The truth is that most marketing messages you see and hear come off a marketing department whiteboard somewhere, with the objective of promoting a product or strategy, without a lot of regard for the specific truth for every different individual. These messages are meant to sell to you and without sufficient knowledge or education, people get hung up on the latest fad and cling to only part of the message: saturated fat causes heart disease; or, weight can be lost by restricting carbohydrates and increasing protein consumption or, food x is a miracle lazy cure for all that ails you.Ultimately, the food industry has the power to persuade people into thinking certain products are good, but no matter what is said, real food doesn’t usually come in a packet and too much of anything is more likely to be a problem than a blessing. And those two things are about all you need to know.See more at: Icky and Dangerous Preservatives and Additives.Image: Shutterstock