Is "low-Carb" labeling illegal?

A recent article in The Arizona Republic stated that labeling anything
"low-carb" was not legal. They cited a few terms such as low fat,lite
and such as being permissable. I think their authority was the FDA.
Does anyone know if this is true?
George
Arizona

There are no standards for *low carb*, *reduced carbs* *lower in carbs* as
of yet so companies can do as they please. I am sure it will not be long
before the FDA decides it needs a standard for the carb terms, just as they
have had to set them for *organic*, *low fat* etc over the years.

Teeb

"George Parton" wrote in message
...
A recent article in The Arizona Republic stated that labeling anything
"low-carb" was not legal. They cited a few terms such as low fat,lite
and such as being permissable. I think their authority was the FDA.
Does anyone know if this is true?
George
Arizona

The problem too is that "low carb" isn't specific enough. There are a lot
of different diet plans out there, lots of different foods, so what's low
carb to one person may not be to another. For example, a family member had
to keep carbs to 50 per meal during late pregnancy due to gestational
diabetes. So maybe a slice or 2 of that ~20 carb/slice "low carb" Papa
Murphy's pizza is no big deal on that plan, but not for Atkins.

I found this article which is pretty interesting: I suspect there's no
regulation yet (IE it would be legal to say "low carb") -- maybe it will be
coming soon...

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/special/foodlabel/lite.html

I'll say though, after working closely with marketers, I don't trust a
single word on the box. Looking at the nutritional info, and then the
ingredients, is the best bet!

Brian

"George Parton" wrote in message
...
A recent article in The Arizona Republic stated that labeling anything
"low-carb" was not legal. They cited a few terms such as low fat,lite
and such as being permissable. I think their authority was the FDA.
Does anyone know if this is true?
George
Arizona

Thanks Brian, that is an interesting read.
GP

Brian wrote:
The problem too is that "low carb" isn't specific enough. There are a lot
of different diet plans out there, lots of different foods, so what's low
carb to one person may not be to another. For example, a family member had
to keep carbs to 50 per meal during late pregnancy due to gestational
diabetes. So maybe a slice or 2 of that ~20 carb/slice "low carb" Papa
Murphy's pizza is no big deal on that plan, but not for Atkins.

I found this article which is pretty interesting: I suspect there's no
regulation yet (IE it would be legal to say "low carb") -- maybe it will be
coming soon...

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/special/foodlabel/lite.html

I'll say though, after working closely with marketers, I don't trust a
single word on the box. Looking at the nutritional info, and then the
ingredients, is the best bet!

Brian

"George Parton" wrote in message
...

A recent article in The Arizona Republic stated that labeling anything
"low-carb" was not legal. They cited a few terms such as low fat,lite
and such as being permissable. I think their authority was the FDA.
Does anyone know if this is true?
George
Arizona

"George Parton" wrote in message

A recent article in The Arizona Republic stated that labeling anything
"low-carb" was not legal. They cited a few terms such as low fat,lite
and such as being permissable. I think their authority was the FDA.
Does anyone know if this is true?
George
Arizona

I don't think it's illegal but the FDA is cracking down on companies who are
mislabeling foods. For example, the manufacturers of "low carb" bars used to
omit sugar alcohols and glycerin on the nutrition lables altogether. They
must now be included in the total carb count. They can claim elsewhere on
the label that the net carbs are less but the carbs must be included on the
nutrition label.

There is growing pressure for the FDA to define what low carb means but for
now it's buyer beware. What manufacturers claim is low carb may very well
not be.

The FDA is working on standards for labeling food LC and they are
expected to be issued shortly.

"Jeri" wrote in message
...
"George Parton" wrote in message

A recent article in The Arizona Republic stated that labeling anything
"low-carb" was not legal. They cited a few terms such as low fat,lite
and such as being permissable. I think their authority was the FDA.
Does anyone know if this is true?
George
Arizona

I don't think it's illegal but the FDA is cracking down on companies who
are
mislabeling foods. For example, the manufacturers of "low carb" bars used
to
omit sugar alcohols and glycerin on the nutrition lables altogether. They
must now be included in the total carb count. They can claim elsewhere on
the label that the net carbs are less but the carbs must be included on
the
nutrition label.

There is growing pressure for the FDA to define what low carb means but
for
now it's buyer beware. What manufacturers claim is low carb may very well
not be.

Even then there is the problem with using teeny-tiny portion amounts to make
the product seem low carb. Unfortunetely those people who did not read the
book and simply buy this junk based on the advertisers label will suffer.

I personally am smart enough to read the back label & figure out that the
manufacturers idea of a portion will not even fill a thimble and try to
avoid the junk & stick with naturally low carb foods.

I started in Jan and went from 230 to 210 lbs as of today. My wife makes
things hard though because she likes to go out and buy so called low carb
candy bars and ice cream etc.

"Brian" wrote in
:

I found this article which is pretty interesting: I suspect there's
no regulation yet (IE it would be legal to say "low carb") -- maybe it
will be coming soon...

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/special/foodlabel/lite.html

I'll say though, after working closely with marketers, I don't trust a
single word on the box. Looking at the nutritional info, and then the
ingredients, is the best bet!

Brian

Good article. But your key statement is "I don't trust a single word on the
box".

The article mentions the FDA's "rules", and what's "prohibited", etc., but
it's all a big joke. COMPLIANCE IS VOLUNTARY. There is NO ENFORCEMENT of
the rules. The FDA does NOT test products to see if the labels are correct.
Even when the manufacturers are caught in a lie, they're likely to get no
more than a hand slap and a miniscule fine:

http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/press/2001/09042001.html

--
A. Brown
remove the junk to email