A personal journey into better food labeling.
A personal journey into better food labeling.
The food we buy matters.
As our food systems become increasingly
complex, the food we choose to consume affects
not only our own health, but also the environment,
our ethical framework, the Earth's biodiversity,
and so much more.
But much of the data of our food purchases remains
hidden to us as end consumers. Food labels only give us
a basic snapshot. And pushes for better labeling are met
by slow-moving governments and companies resistant
to change.
This isn’t good enough.
We, as consumers, deserve
to know more about our food.
So, I went on a mission to come up with
something better. For 10 weeks, I carefully
tracked all of my grocery purchases in hopes of
creating a better and more visual look into my
food purchases.
A label 2.0 sorta speak.
Here’s what I found.
Over the 10 weeks, I purchased all sorts of groceries. I crunched the numbers, and gave out
awards for the best of the best, and the worst of the worst.
Cut and Peeled Carrots
Organic Carrots
Red Delicious Apple
Butter
Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter
Butter
Salt
Stacy's Pita Chips
Nuts About Raspberries & Chocolate Trek Mix
I carefully tracked all my own grocery purchases with hopes of coming up with a better way to make sense of it all. Where does my food come from? What are my healthiest and unhealthiest choices? Which foods have GMOs? I created a dashboard that shows me all of this information and more.
It's my dream label.
Cut and Peeled Carrots
Cut and Peeled Carrots
Cuban Style Black Beans
Water
Spicy Thai Shrimp Fried Rice
Spicy Thai Shrimp Fried Rice
Spinach Mushroom & Cheese Quiche
Cuban Style Black Beans
Cut and Peeled Carrots
Cut and Peeled Carrots are one of the best low-cost sources of nutrients!
No fruit is no good. Make sure to get some soon. An apple a day..
Looks like you may need to stock up on some staple items.
Green Giant Baby Cut Carrots
Green Giant Baby Cut Carrots
Red Delicious Apple
Canola Oil
Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter
Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter
Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter
Stacy's Pita Chips
Baby Spinach & Greens Salad
Someone's got a case of the apples!
More snacks than veggies? That usually is not great.
Looks like it's time for you to get back on the cheese train.
Kiwi
Green Giant Baby Cut Carrots
Red Delicious Apple
Red Delicious Apple
Organic Eggs
Organic Whole Milk
Organic Whole Milk
Stacy's Pita Chips
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Apple trilogy! A third straight week of fantastic fruits.
Ice cream sandwiches are tasty. But enjoy in moderation.
Let's up the salad. I mean, why not?
Organic Carrots
Organic Carrots
Inner Peas Baked Green Pea Snack
Salt
Organic Eggs
Organic Eggs
Organic Eggs
Thai Shrimp Gyoza
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Lots of veggies and salads. That'll do the body right.
Just one fruit? And a Kiwi at that?
More fruits please. Also - are you low on coffee?
Organic Carrots
Organic Carrots
Red Delicious Apple
Salt
Brown Jasmine Rice
Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter
Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter
Crunchy Curls Lentil & Potato Snack
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Apple streak! Another week of fantastic fruits.
Eggs and Whole Milk are high in cholesterol. Just be mindful.
Looks like it's time for you to get back on the cheese train.
Cut and Peeled Carrots
Green Giant Baby Cut Carrots
Red Delicious Apple
Salt
Butter
Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter
Butter
Stacy's Pita Chips
Nuts About Raspberries & Chocolate Trek Mix
So many fruits and veggies! Well done I say.
Frozen food alert! Try going fresh a bit more.
You're looking good. Normal course of business works.
Organic Carrots
Green Giant Baby Cut Carrots
Red Delicious Apple
Water
Organic Eggs
Organic Whole Milk
New Zealand Organic Cheddar Cheese
Crunchy Curls Lentil & Potato Snack
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Someone's got a case of the apples!
Eggs and Whole Milk are high in cholesterol. Just be mindful.
You're looking good. Normal course of business works.
Organic Carrots
Organic Carrots
Wild Salmon with Orzo Pasta, Spinach & Zucchini
Salt
Nuts About Raspberries & Chocolate Trek Mix
Nuts About Raspberries & Chocolate Trek Mix
New Zealand Organic Cheddar Cheese
Pad See Ew
Nuts About Raspberries & Chocolate Trek Mix
Carrots are one of the best low-cost sources of nutrients!
No fruit is no good. Make sure to get some soon. An apple a day..
More fruits please. Also - are you low on coffee?
Organic Carrots
Green Giant Baby Cut Carrots
Red Delicious Apple
Salt
Jasmine Rice
Organic Whole Milk
New Zealand Organic Cheddar Cheese
Thai Shrimp Gyoza
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Apple streak! Another week of fantastic fruits.
Eggs and Whole Milk are high in cholesterol. Just be mindful.
Let's up the salad. I mean, why not?
Organic Carrots
Organic Carrots
Lentil Soup - Amy's Organic Soups
Salt
Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter
Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter
Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter
Vegetarian Pizza
Nuts About Raspberries & Chocolate Trek Mix
Cut and Peeled Carrots are one of the best low-cost sources of nutrients!
Just one fruit? And a Kiwi at that?
Looks like you may need to stock up on some staple items.
By carefully tracking my own grocery purchase data, I was able to gain a better and more visual understanding into how I consume groceries: where they come from, which ones have GMOs, which ones are the best and worst for me, and so much more.
I believe the food industry has much to gain from giving consumers access to this data, in terms of helping people make more informed choices and ultimately increase trust in the places where they shop.
Interested in learning more? Email me. And help spread the word:
Total fat | - | - | |
Carbs | - | - | |
Sugars | - | - | |
Protein | - | - |
Sat fat | - | - | |
Trans fat | - | - | |
Cholesterol | - | - | |
Sodium | - | - |
Vitamin A | - | ||
Vitamin C | |||
Calcium | - | ||
Iron | - | ||
Fiber | - |
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