Several years ago, author and former columnist with the New York Times, Mark Bittman, “worked with Werner Design Werks of St. Paul [, MN] to devise a better food label that at perhaps little more than a glance … “can tell a story about three key elements of any packaged food and can provide an overall traffic-light-style recommendation or warning.” See the screenshot above for descriptions of nutrition, foodness, and welfare, as well as the traffic-light guide for the quickest judgment of a food’s quality.
While it doesn’t capture all of the components of how the Michigan Good Food Charter rates good food, it captures what’s important. That intrigues me.
Let’s not bog this entry down with what eventually becomes the most significant hurdle regarding this label–i.e., who is responsible for assigning the scores? For now, I’d like to ask real, good food foodies to consider how such a labeling system could help you make informed grocery shopping decisions if you trust the scorers.
By all means, comment below if you have an opinion on this food label.