Serving up the truth

Most U.S. consumers are trying to limit their added sugar consumption, but chain restaurants are not currently required to disclose the amount of added sugar in their menu items. In October 2024, CSPI commissioned a national survey to assess how many consumers look for nutrition information (such as added sugars) when ordering from restaurants and how many consumers would support a policy to require sodium and added sugars warnings on chain restaurant menus. Big Village’s CARAVAN U.S. Online Omnibus Survey was administered to a nationally representative sample of 2,025 U.S. adults, demographically balanced to the U.S. Census on age, sex, region, race, and ethnicity. Almost all respondents (1,994/2,025, 98%) reported ever ordering food or drinks from chain restaurants, and we analyzed responses to the subsequent questions from these 1,994 respondents. View the resource below to learn more.

Flavor report: Hidden ingredients

The way a food tastes and smells is important when it comes to choosing what we eat. Food companies engineer foods to ensure they taste and smell appealing by adding flavors and spices. These can be natural substances or chemicals synthesized in a laboratory. They can be a single ingredient—like vanilla extract, dried basil, or a specific chemical—or blends of many ingredients formulated and developed by professional flavorists.

Food industry hides unsafe ingredients behind vague terms like ‘flavor’

Manufacturers hide thousands of food chemicals—some deemed unsafe in other countries—from consumers and the FDA via vague ingredient labels and lax oversight.

CSPI in 2025: Advancing food safety & public health for all

Your support helped CSPI’s efforts to ban harmful food additives, safeguard infant foods, improve retail policies, and restore funds for scientific research. Thank you for making 2025 a healthier year for all!

Why are there no EU-style food dye warning labels in the US?

The FDA says synthetic food dyes 'pose real dangers to consumers.' So why aren't we putting warning labels on products with food dye, as the EU does?

Sign-on letter in support of the TRUTH in Labeling Act of 2025

Health and nutrition advocates, researchers call for government to define and regulate ultra-processed foods

New York City’s “Sweet Truth Act” takes effect, marking a public health milestone

Is RFK Jr. walking the walk? MAHA Report promises updates while New York acts on GRAS

If the FDA isn’t approving the novel proteins, stabilizers, and artificial flavors in foods, who is? What to know about GRAS and a New York bill that could close the loophole for good.

Health advocates call on Trump administration to finalize proposals for transparency in alcohol labeling