The FDA often deliberately obscures . . .
. . at the request of the food industry.
For instance, when ingredient lists were first required, an FDA standard formula was made up for ketchup so ingredients didn't have to be listed on the label. The ketchup manufacturers wanted to disguise the fact that their ketchups contained more sugar than ice cream does (which is why kids like ketchup so much).
Of course, sugar is no longer used in ketchup, and I notice that Hunt's (chosen as the best ketchup by Cooks Illustrated) does list ingredients now (in rather small print). Tomatoes are first on the list, High Fructose Corn Syrup is second, then Vinegar, then Corn Syrup. By splitting the sweetness between High Fructose and regular Corn Syrup they can keep Tomatoes as the top ingredient.
