3 Stars Means It's Healthy, Right?

Stars, numbers, and letter grades are coming to grocery stores near you, the New York Times reports—but experts fear that these health ratings may befuddle shoppers with conflicting information. Consumer advocates are studying three new food ranking systems, while the FDA, approached by a nutrition group, is soliciting ideas about a possible system of its own.

Two ranking systems were unveiled this week—one from a Connecticut doctor who will rate foods from 1 to 100, another from a grocery chain that will give 1 to 3 stars. But one expert says buyers will be baffled if a food gets no stars from one group, but an endorsement from another. “I think we are going to have competing systems until the federal government steps in," he said. (More healthy eating stories.)