What Is Health Washing?
- Nancy Arenas
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Nancy Arenas:
Health washing occurs when companies market products as “healthy” or “better for you” despite being nutritionally poor or even harmful. It’s designed to exploit consumers’ desire to make health-conscious choices while keeping them hooked on processed or animal-based products.
Common Examples:
“Low-fat” dairy products: Marketed as heart-healthy yet still linked to cholesterol, saturated fat, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
“Lean” meats: Promoted as a source of protein but still associated with cancer risks and heart disease due to animal protein and heme iron.
Sugary cereals labeled with “whole grains”: Companies highlight one positive ingredient while ignoring high sugar content and artificial additives.
Fast-food “healthy options”: Salads loaded with processed meats, cheese, and high-calorie dressings that negate any nutritional benefit.
“Natural” or “organic” junk food: Cookies, chips, or sodas branded as organic or natural, misleading consumers into thinking they are wholesome.
These tactics create a false sense of health while perpetuating diets that contribute to chronic disease.
Why We Must Not Fall for Health Washing
Health washing is dangerous because it:
Confuses consumers: It makes people believe they are making healthy choices when they are not.
Protects harmful industries: Animal agriculture and processed food companies profit from misleading claims.
Delays real change: It keeps people trapped in unhealthy eating patterns, undermining public health progress.
By falling for health washing, we unintentionally support industries that profit from illness.
Veganism: The True Path to Health
Rejecting health washing means embracing genuine solutions—and veganism is one of the most powerful ways to protect our health.
Disease prevention: Plant-based diets reduce risks of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers.
Nutritional richness: Whole plant foods provide fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that animal products lack.
Weight management: Vegan diets are naturally lower in calories and saturated fat, supporting healthy body weight.
Longevity: Studies show populations with plant-heavy diets live longer, healthier lives.
Ethical clarity: Veganism eliminates the need for deceptive “health” labels by removing animal-based risks altogether.
Unlike health washing, veganism is not a marketing gimmick—it is a direct, systemic solution to diet-related disease.
To protect our health, we must see through the lies of health washing and refuse to reward companies that exploit wellness rhetoric. Instead, we can take meaningful action by choosing veganism, advocating for transparency, and supporting truly nourishing plant-based foods.
Nancy Arenas is a passionate vegan advocate, nutrition coach, and founder of Red & Green VegFest Albuquerque. She leads Sprouting Compassion, a nonprofit promoting plant-based living. Through her podcast, Vegan Pulse, she educates and inspires others about ethical, environmental, and health benefits of veganism. Her mission is to spread compassion.
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