Food labels are on just about every packaged food you can find. But it's OK if you rarely notice them. Today's food labels fail to present a food's nutritional value in clear, consistent terms that all consumers can understand. Given the importance of food choices in our lives, better labeling could go a long way in addressing some of our most critical health issues.
The Food and Drug Administration is just getting started on the process of considering a new food label to stamp on our grub. Back in May, we got a head start: We asked you to redesign the nutrition label with the help of UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism’s News21 reporting fellows.
Thanks to everyone who sent in designs. We were blown away by the responses! Now it's time to tell the feds which labels really work. Please weigh in on your favorite user-submitted label in the comments, or vote on the entries at News21's site here.
And stay tuned: We'll be announcing the winners with the help of a talented team of writers, nutritionists, and designers: Michael Pollan, author of Food Rules; Robert H. Lustig, M.D., professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco; Michael Jacobson of the Center for Science in the Public Interest; Andrew Vande Moere of Information Aesthetics; and Laura Brunow Miner of Pictory.
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.