• Exploitative Business Practices: Increasingly, HWFC has less choice in the business and environmental ethics of manufacturers as the industry continues to consolidate. Unless a product is labeled Fair Trade Certified, it is often difficult to ascertain business practices from the label. Information on questionable business practices is passed on to customers through the Coop Scoop and on bulletin boards in order for them to make informed purchases. Examples of questionable practices include lack of fair compensation to farm laborers, employing child labor, marketing products unscrupulously to children, and using lobbying power to manipulate or dispel scientific findings that might otherwise damage market share. The Nutrition and Education Committee serves as a forum for Members desiring to obtain information and help educate others.
• Misleading or Confusing Product Labeling: Product labels can be deceiving, sometimes because of what is listed, sometimes because of what is not. A commonly used misleading term is 'natural', which is often used to encourage consumers to view products as healthier. In general, because there is no regulatory definition of the word natural when used by itself, there is little meaning behind the term. Thus, manufacturers commonly use this term as a marketing ploy, when the product may in fact contain very few 100% natural ingredients. When natural is used to describe flavors (ie. "natural flavors"), it can be equally misleading because natural and artificial flavors sometimes contain exactly the same chemicals, but are produced through different methods. A natural flavor is not necessarily healthier or purer than an artificial one and sometimes is less so (ref 9). Labels may also be misleading in cases where manufacturers are not required to disclose ingredients entirely, because the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) considers this proprietary information. Such 'hidden' ingredients pose a risk, particularly when they are allergens.
• Global Conglomerates in Natural and Organic Foods: As the industry consolidates, HWFC is committed to sharing with customers information on ingredients, processes, and business practices of natural and organic foods manufacturers. It is also committed to participating in collective efforts to curtail or examine practices that are harmful to the environment and the food supply.

Continue to Section 11: References