Great TV program says carb#'s on labels NOT true.

[Buddyjay]

I want to apologize up front if this is old news but I just saw a program on IONLIFE featuring a "Dateline" story on Carbs and dieting. This story may have come out awhile ago, I don't know.
It was very informative. They showed wether or not the carb #'s listed on food packages were correct or not. They took about 15 random products off of store shelves and also tested some fast food items and had them tested at an independent lab. Items such as:
Burger King low carb items
Fridays low carb items
Subway low carb items
Low carb bread
Low carb cookies
Low carb pasta
etc., etc...
AND different Atkins foods

What they discovered is that on most products the carbs listed were MUCH HIGHER than the label said!
The Atkins products tested were actually LOWER in their carb #'s then was posted on the labels.
Burger King's low carb burger in a bowl was also true in their carb claims.

The experts interviewed said that because their are many food descrepencies regarding carbs that they are pushing the food industry to list, on their labels, how that food rates on the glycemic index; as they already do in Australia.

[cathyjobob]

Buddyjay! I just watched the same program and was very pleased with Atkins brand foods. That was terrific news indeed

[Scooterjam]

Excellent, I did not catch the program, but good good stuff! Thanks for the post!

[sadie147]

I learned recently that in Canada, manufacturer's have to post nutrional values within 20% of what they really are. 20% leeway! that's a big difference! I was so shocked by this.


As far as restaurants like subway, i say it would be very difficult for them to have an exact # as it depends on the person making it..some will throw on a bigger handful of lettuce, and extra slice of tomato or two, different amount of sauce etc. same goes for other restuarants i guess. I don't eat out often but have had subways low carb wraps..i always assume it's 4or 5 g's more than it claims.

[not2late]

Not surprizing at all. That's why I'm very weary about any product specifically touted to be "low carb".

I've posted this before, but a couple of years ago, a salad dressing company was marketing a "low carb" salad dressing, next to its regular salad dressing. The low carb dressing was 6 ounces and $3.49. The regular dressing was 8 ounces and $2.49. I compared the labels. Both dressings contained the same ingredients and had the same nutritional info.

So beware.