From Label to Table: Regulating Food in America in the Information Age

The Nutrition Facts label on American household food products is a legal, scientific, and innocuous strip of information that can be a prism through which to view the high-stakes political battles and development of scientific ideas that have shaped the realms of American health, nutrition, and public communication. Xaq Frohlich's book explores how powerful government offices inform the public about what they consume and how evolving popular ideas about food, diet, and responsibility for health have influenced what goes on the label.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 17 October 2023
Publisher: University of California Press

The Nutrition Facts label has become an ubiquitous feature on millions of everyday American household food products, providing consumers with crucial information about the nutritional content of their food. However, this legal, scientific, and seemingly innocuous strip of information can be a prism through which to view the high-stakes political battles and development of scientific ideas that have shaped the realms of American health, nutrition, and public communication.

In his book, From Label to Table, Xaq Frohlich delves into the origins and evolution of the Nutrition Facts label. He traces policy debates at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which played a pivotal role in establishing the label's requirements and guidelines. Frohlich describes how the emergence of our present information age in food and diet markets has shaped the way we consume and interpret nutritional information.

One of the key themes of From Label to Table is the power of government offices to inform the public about what they consume. Frohlich explores how powerful government agencies, such as the FDA, have influenced the development of nutritional guidelines and the content of the Nutrition Facts label. He also examines how these agencies interact with industry stakeholders and how they shape public opinion about food and nutrition.

Another important aspect of From Label to Table is the evolving popular ideas about food, diet, and responsibility for health that have influenced what goes on the Nutrition Facts label. Frohlich examines how societal attitudes towards health, nutrition, and consumerism have shaped the way food manufacturers label their products and how consumers interpret and use nutritional information. He also explores how these ideas have been contested and challenged by various stakeholders, including consumer advocacy groups, scientific researchers, and industry representatives.

Overall, From Label to Table provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the Nutrition Facts label and its role in shaping the realms of American health, nutrition, and public communication. By tracing the policy debates, scientific developments, and popular ideas that have influenced the label's evolution, Frohlich offers a valuable perspective on the complex and multifaceted issues surrounding food and nutrition.

Weight: 444g
Dimension: 153 x 227 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520298811