The Biggest Health Food Scams of 2011 #2

4. Flavored Greek Yogurt With all the hype around its digestive health benefits, low sugar and high protein content (not to mention its indulgent thick texture), Greek yogurt became a major health food player in 2011. Sales went through the roof - with the top 10 brands raking in over $1.9 billion for the year. Yoplait joined the part, too, but its version is dubious at best - made with "milk protein concentrate" and additives like gelatin instead of 100% strained yogurt like those made by Chobani, Fage and Oikos. While plain, low-fat Greek yogurt is a nutritional powerhouse, some of the flavored options pack more sugar per ounce than soda (about 39 grams per 12-ounce can) and ice cream (about 24 grams for 4 ounces). The worse offenders:

• Fage Total 2% with Honey: 29 grams
• Cabot 2% Strawberry: 24 grams
• Dannon 0% Honey & Chobani Blueberry Nonfat: 20 grams, each

5. The Healthy Happy Meal Following McDonald's Commitments to Offer Improved Nutrition Choices initiative announced in July, the company launched a new Happy Meal menu in September. The kids' meal now touts a smaller serving of french fries (reduced from 2.4 ounces to a 1.1 ounce, 100 calorie pack), a 1.2 ounce helping of apple slices (and no longer comes with caramel dipping sauce) and fat-free chocolate or 1% white milk instead of soda. But the price is same even if diners request more fries or soda.

Yes, it's a step in the right direction. But a measly half serving of fruit and sugary chocolate milk can't save a meal based on a fatty hamburger, cheeseburger or Chicken McNuggers, plus fried potatoes.

6. Gluten-Free Foods The latest villain in the diet world, gluten - a protein compound found in wheat and related grains, including barley and rye - has been blamed for things like headaches and weight gain. In 2011, gluten-free labels popped up on everything from coffee (which is naturally gluten-free) to snack foods (General Mills now offers more than 300 gluten-free products). Sales reached $1.2 billion last year, more than double that of 5 years ago.

Sure, skipping the giant bowl of pasta, garlic bread and croissants in favor of meat, fresh produce and dairy can do a body good. But "processed foods specially formulated to be gluten-free are often higher in calories and sugar, and lower in fiber and B vitamins than their gluten-containing counterparts - and they're twice as expensive," says Davis. While these items are great for people diagnosed with celiac disease (which affects less than 1% of the population) or gluten intolerance - "they offer zero health benefits to the vast majority of us," he says