Labels, Trends, and the Responsibility We Carry

Personalized nutrition innovations are on the rise, from genomic and microbiome testing to real-time monitoring and AI-driven recommendations, and even functional foods and supplements designed to optimize health.

Yet, the reality is that only a very small fraction of the global population can afford these tools.

Health is two things:

1. The foundation upon which everything else in life is built, and everyone deserves it.

2. Prevention begins with education, and with educators comes responsibility.

So, if food is the foundation, our fuel, energy, our very life, then those of us in the food industry have a deep responsibility to ensure that what we deliver truly nourishes. Biotechnology offers great opportunities to bridge nutritional gaps at scale, making health more accessible. But while we work toward that future, there’s something simpler we can do right now:

Stop being misleading with labels by aligning with scientific evidence.

Take the “keto” trend, for example:

Did you know that most of the scientific data supporting the “success” of the ketogenic diet comes from people with epilepsy or seizure disorders?

While a few studies show benefits like improved metabolic function or insulin sensitivity, doing it without proper guidance can disrupt hormonal balance, elevate cortisol, and lower serotonin, leading to both physical and emotional strain.

Unfortunately, many companies leverage trends as marketing strategies without considering how vulnerable and uninformed many consumers can be. This only reinforces “carbohydrate phobia” and deepens confusion.

Here’s an example:

A “Keto Meal Shake” labeled with big claims:

-> “Ultra low-carb meal shake”

-> “0.76 net carbs”

-> “26g protein”

And this is their ingredient list:

“High protein, low carb” may sound appealing to someone who wants to be healthier, but ethically, that doesn’t make it right. But... If the keto diet’s biggest success has been in epilepsy, are all these additives and ingredients really “keto-friendly”? And if this trend wants to be part of the 'healthy space', with growing evidence connecting our microbiome, health, and what we eat, is this product truly nourishing?

My intention isn’t to be negative, but to shine light on where our industry must do better. Consumer education remains one of our biggest challenges, but it starts with the people creating, funding, and scaling the next generation of food products. When we align innovation with truth, and health with accessibility, everyone wins.