Food Labeling Deception: The Lies They Tell You
You are being lied to.
Everyday you purchase food items that you think are good for you. You probably base your decisions on the food labels themselves. The problem is that there it is very difficult to monitor and enforce misrepresentations about food claims that restaurants and food manufacturers make.
These are the top seven lies that restaurants and food manufacturers tell you.
1. "carbohydrate smart," and "carbohydrate free lifestyle".
Many people purchase items with these labels thinking that "carbohydrates are bad". Lables will often say that they're carbohydrates will have "a minimal impact on blood sugar". But you have to remember, carbs still provide calories that can make you fat.
2. "Low fat": to meet the labeling law standards, a food item must have less than 3 grams of fat per serving to lawfully call itself low fat. Very often you are served portion sized much larger than a typical serving size. Therein lies the problem.
For example, a snickers bar may be called "low fat" as long as there are no more than 3 grams of fat in a standard serving.
Frequently you are offered food portions much larger the typical serving size. So a single serving slice of pizza (3 grams of fat according to the label) could contain twelve grams of fat!
You must bear in mind that even a small-sized serving of low fat main dishes like hamburgers can have more than three grams of fat per serving.
And remember, "low in fat" does equal "low in calories."
3. "Light": "Light" is commonly used to mean many different things.
Food labels should clearly indicate what "light" is intended to convey. If the meaning is not clearly explained, you should seek clarification. If "light" indicates a reduction in calories, fat, or sodium, information about those nutrients should be provided.
4. "Cholesterol free": "Cholesterol free" claims are can be popular, but can also be very misleading. Keep in mind that:
"Cholesterol free" does not mean that you should eat it.
Foods like veal, foul, and scallops contain cholesterol -- even if they are cooked in "cholesterol free" oil.
Also, saturated fat and trans fat can raise your cholesterol level.
"Cholesterol free" foods sometimes contain saturated fat. The FDA only allows foods that are low in saturated fat to be described as "cholesterol free," but watch out -- most do not comply with this requirement.
The FDA allows foods with abundant amounts of trans-fats to be called "cholesterol free." To avoid trans-fats and limit your consumption of foods prepared with vegetable shortening or partially hydrogenated oils.
5. "Sugar free": Keep in mind that "sugar free" does not mean "calorie free" or "fat free." When foods are described as "sugar free" it does NOT mean that it is not low-calorie or reduced-calorie.
6. "Healthy": When foods are described as "healthy" they should be low in fat and saturated fat and cannot be high in cholesterol or sodium. Keep in mind that there is no limit to the amount of sugar or calories that "healthy foods" can contain.
7. "Heart" claims: Claims like "heart-healthy," "heart smart," and "heart" symbols imply that a food may be useful in reducing the risk of heart disease. - 17268
Everyday you purchase food items that you think are good for you. You probably base your decisions on the food labels themselves. The problem is that there it is very difficult to monitor and enforce misrepresentations about food claims that restaurants and food manufacturers make.
These are the top seven lies that restaurants and food manufacturers tell you.
1. "carbohydrate smart," and "carbohydrate free lifestyle".
Many people purchase items with these labels thinking that "carbohydrates are bad". Lables will often say that they're carbohydrates will have "a minimal impact on blood sugar". But you have to remember, carbs still provide calories that can make you fat.
2. "Low fat": to meet the labeling law standards, a food item must have less than 3 grams of fat per serving to lawfully call itself low fat. Very often you are served portion sized much larger than a typical serving size. Therein lies the problem.
For example, a snickers bar may be called "low fat" as long as there are no more than 3 grams of fat in a standard serving.
Frequently you are offered food portions much larger the typical serving size. So a single serving slice of pizza (3 grams of fat according to the label) could contain twelve grams of fat!
You must bear in mind that even a small-sized serving of low fat main dishes like hamburgers can have more than three grams of fat per serving.
And remember, "low in fat" does equal "low in calories."
3. "Light": "Light" is commonly used to mean many different things.
Food labels should clearly indicate what "light" is intended to convey. If the meaning is not clearly explained, you should seek clarification. If "light" indicates a reduction in calories, fat, or sodium, information about those nutrients should be provided.
4. "Cholesterol free": "Cholesterol free" claims are can be popular, but can also be very misleading. Keep in mind that:
"Cholesterol free" does not mean that you should eat it.
Foods like veal, foul, and scallops contain cholesterol -- even if they are cooked in "cholesterol free" oil.
Also, saturated fat and trans fat can raise your cholesterol level.
"Cholesterol free" foods sometimes contain saturated fat. The FDA only allows foods that are low in saturated fat to be described as "cholesterol free," but watch out -- most do not comply with this requirement.
The FDA allows foods with abundant amounts of trans-fats to be called "cholesterol free." To avoid trans-fats and limit your consumption of foods prepared with vegetable shortening or partially hydrogenated oils.
5. "Sugar free": Keep in mind that "sugar free" does not mean "calorie free" or "fat free." When foods are described as "sugar free" it does NOT mean that it is not low-calorie or reduced-calorie.
6. "Healthy": When foods are described as "healthy" they should be low in fat and saturated fat and cannot be high in cholesterol or sodium. Keep in mind that there is no limit to the amount of sugar or calories that "healthy foods" can contain.
7. "Heart" claims: Claims like "heart-healthy," "heart smart," and "heart" symbols imply that a food may be useful in reducing the risk of heart disease. - 17268
About the Author:
Be sure to visit personal trainers in Yorba Linda CA and boot camps in Fullerton CA for more FREE health, fitness and wellness articles and videos from Orange County California's top fitness trainer, Curtis Ludlow.
posted by X - Men at
4:42 AM
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