I was invited to the launch of the Smart Choices food labeling system last month in New York City.

Smart Choices is a front of packaging nutritional food label system developed by an alliance of U.S. food manufacturers and retailers. Participation is voluntary and a product must meet specific guidelines to be included. Though the program is funded by the participating food companies the program is overseen (and the money managed) by a non-profit organization comprised of the American Society for Nutrition and NSF International.

They key to the program is that the symbol is meant to help shoppers make the healthier decision within a food category. For example, if you are in the market to buy frozen treats, the product with the Smart Choices check mark may be the healthiest option within that category of food.

Along with Asha from Parent Hacks, Dawn from Because I Said So, Daniel from Consumer Queen (that's his wife, just sayin'), Carmen from Mom to the Screaming Masses, Meghan from Mom Central, and one of my old blog friends Jo-Lynne from Musings of a Housewife, we spent the day at the gorgeous Food Emporium in Manhattan with nutrition educator and dietician Wendy Bazilian, author of The SuperFoodsRX Diet. She explained the program and pointing out various products that have already adopted the new labeling.

Smart Choices is meant to encourage people to take small steps to healthier food choices and meet consumers where they are, at the grocery and needing simple, quick information. But, the program isn't without it's detractors. Some people feel it's merely a way for companies to sell more of their products, while others feel the criteria for labeling is too lenient. There is also concern that the labeling is misleading consumers and causing them not to further check nutritional facts, thinking are eating "healthy", approved foods.

There is nothing about the program that says you have free license to eat all the foods with green check marks or eat more of those foods. However, I have concern that many average consumers may not understand that. But, then again, if the green check mark causes someone to look at a label and make a better food choice, then perhaps that's good. Big changes happen in small increments.

I was invited to the launch and my expenses were paid, but I was not paid to attend. Everyone was very hospitable and I had a delightful time. There was absolutely no obligation to write a positive review of the program or the trip, or even to write a review at all.