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Can Nutrition Labels Be Trusted?

How many carbs are in those tortillas or diet cranberry juice? We depend a lot upon nutrition labels to give us accurate information about what we are eating. A recent study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association about the accuracy of labels, has raised concerns. This study measured actual calories in 10 frozen meals from the supermarket and 29 restaurant meals. They found that the freezer case meals averaged 8% more calories than the labels stated, and the restaurants meals averaged 18% more. To an extent, we should not be surprised. Food labeling regulations allow the numbers on the labels to vary up to 20% in either direction from the real amounts, and in truth, it is impossible to be 100% accurate (see Why Carb Counts Vary). They are more likely to contain more calories and other nutrients (rather than less) because by weight the package must contain a minimum of 99% of the weight stated on the label. What is more surprising is that this testing isn't done routinely. As reported by Walletpop.com earlier this year, Florida is the only state that tests commercial food products for labeling accuracy on a regular basis. I wrote to the lab there to get their most recent findings, which includes mislabeling in the following foods which were supposedly sugar-free: Sugar in Walmart's Sugar-Free Coconut Creme Pie Sugar in Walden Farms Sugar-Free Syrup Sugar in Jodan's Sugar-Free Vanilla Creme Wafers Sugar in Hill and Valley Sugar-Free Lemon Meringue Pie (and several other Hall and Valley Sugar-Free Baked Goods) What can we do? 1) Keep consupmtion of packaged foods to a minimum, relying on "shopping the perimeter" of the grocery store, and the frozen food aisle for plain frozen vegetables, berries, etc. 2) Know your body's reactions. If you are having carb cravings, your weight loss slows, or you find you're having blood sugar spikes, be very suspicious. Photo: C. Sherburne/Getty Images Related Resources: Low-Carb Guide to Nutrition Labels Laura's Low-Carb Pyramid 7 Nutrition Rules for Healthy Low-Carb Eating Can Nutrition Labels Be Trusted? originally appeared on About.com Low Carb Diets on Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 at 19:59:40.Permalink | Comment | Email this
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