"Natural" on a food label is meaningless

Consumers often gravitate towards foods described by the label as "natural." Why wouldn't you? Sounds great, right?

One problem: the word is absolutely meaningless when it comes to food labels. Two thirds of Americans buy food labeled "natural," but the word can encompass crops sprayed with pesticide, meat from animals raised on antibiotics, genetically engineered crops, and artificial preservatives made from industrial chemicals.

The problem is that the FDA has no regulations which determine what "natural" does and doesn't mean. (Unlike other terms like "low calorie" or "organic," which have legal definitions that the manufacturer needs to meet.)

Of course, many consumers gravitate towards foods labeled "natural" because they are perceived as being just as healthy as foods labeled "organic," but without the added price. Sadly, there is no free lunch, so to speak.