Atkins & new Lo-Carb frenzy

Atkins Warns Consumers About Low-Carbohydrate Product Frenzy


Consumers need to understand how to do low-carb right;

then read labels to ensure that food products fit their needs

NEW YORK, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- For years, Atkins experts have advised
millions of consumers that lowering carbohydrate consumption is the key to
trimming down and staying healthy, but the recent boom in low-carbohydrate
food products and restaurant menu options has them concerned.

"We think it's terrific that people have finally embraced
controlled-carbohydrate nutrition," says Dr. Stuart Trager, medical director
of Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. "But as the pioneer and leader in this field
for over 30 years, Atkins has always been and will continue to be committed
to the science behind this nutritional strategy. If you're just lowering
your carbs with many of the new food products that are now hitting the
market without correctly following a healthy low-carb lifestyle, you could
easily get in trouble."

Estimates suggest that over 1,000 low-carbohydrate products were launched in
2003 and hundreds more will be launched this year with offerings coming from
nearly every major food manufacturer. But exactly what do all of these
low-carb labels mean?

"The meaning of the words 'low-carb' on a food label is highly
inconsistent," continues Dr. Trager. "In fact, in many cases the words are
meaningless from a scientific standpoint. The FDA has not yet defined low
carb for the consumer, so just about any food and beverage producer can use
the term without qualification. A company may cut the carb content of a
traditional product in half and call it low carb but it still may have a net
carb count that is significantly higher than what is appropriate for someone
following a healthy controlled-carb weight loss or weight maintenance
program. Furthermore, a recent independent study of 50 low-carb products
found that many manufacturers were under-reporting net carb content in their
products. Such mislabeling can very well lead someone to fail to achieve
their weight and health goals when doing Atkins. Worse still, improper
consumption of low-carb products might even be unhealthy for consumers."

"Besides that, a food can be low in total or net carbs and still be
unhealthy. They can include harmful additives and trans fats, even added
sugars that offer no nutritional value whatsoever. If a food or beverage
maker cuts the carb content of a traditional product in half and calls it
low carb, while it may be lower in carbs than the original product, that
doesn't mean it's automatically a healthy or effective low-carb product,"
said Dr. Trager.

Atkins nutrition expert, Colette Heimowitz, vice president of Atkins Health
& Information Services, urges consumers to follow some basic rules when
planning their daily menu and shopping for food. Most importantly: read the
nutrition facts panel and the ingredients list before you purchase any item.

-- Don't sacrifice whole foods for convenience products.

-- Avoid hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils.

-- Look for added sugars like sucrose, honey or corn syrup and avoid

them.

-- Make sure you're not exceeding more than 25 grams of sugar alcohols

such as maltitol per day to avoid GI distress.

-- If you're following a controlled-carbohydrate lifestyle, know your

carb tolerance and don't exceed it. Just buying a product labeled low

carb can be misleading.

Atkins itself has introduced over 100 new products since 2000. Currently,
the company plans to maintain that pace through 2004.

"Atkins products are specifically designed to help people succeed as they
are doing each of the four phases of Atkins," says Ms. Heimowitz. "We are
careful to label our products truthfully and with the consumers' success in
doing Atkins in mind. But even our products should be used as part of a
dedicated approach to improving one's health and, not as a dietary short
cut. Doing Atkins doesn't just mean lowering carbs; it is a new way of
eating that brings healthy carbs into a proper balance with proteins and
fats. Consumers should not let a fad approach to food marketing sway them
from their commitment to doing Atkins for their own well-being."

In the 80s and 90s consumers flocked to their grocery stores and loaded up
on products that touted low-fat content, and yet, in the last decade, the
incidence of obesity has risen to epidemic proportions in this country.
Now, the buzz is around low carb. From salad dressings and condiments to
pastas and breads. But will these low-carb products fulfill the promise
that low fat didn't?

"The consumer needs to be educated," says Ms. Heimowitz. "Picking up just
anything with a low and/or net carb claim on the label isn't enough. Even
reading the nutritional information on the back of a box isn't going to tell
consumers the whole story. They need to read the ingredients and understand
what affect those ingredients have on their blood sugar."

Atkins continues to educate consumers that the best food choices are
nutrient-dense whole foods with a healthy balance of proteins, good fats and
good carbohydrates.

"It's about doing Atkins right," continues Heimowitz. "Atkins urges
consumers to use legitimate low-carb products as part of a comprehensive
effort to meet their nutrition and health goals. Some of these new
non-Atkins low-carb products are great, but shoppers have to look at these
foods with a critical eye."

For more information, please contact Gina Mangiaracina at Atkins
Nutritionals, Inc., (212) 457-9243.

SOURCE Atkins Health and Medical Information Services

CO: Atkins Health and Medical Information Services; Atkins Nutritionals,
Inc.

ST: New York

"The meaning of the words 'low-carb' on a food label is highly
inconsistent," continues Dr. Trager. "In fact, in many cases the words are
meaningless from a scientific standpoint.

At this point even sugar manufacturers don't need to worry. They can
make 1/2 teaspoon (2 whole grams of pure sugar) packets and label it
"only 2 carbs per packet!". People can still sweeten their coffee any
way they like grin/duck

This is a reaching example of course, but is an example of (IMHO YMMV
and all the standard acronyms) why a low carb diet should actually be
about ingredients as opposed to just "carb count".

CM

I heard that when the low-carb restaurants were tested (Subway, Arby's Low
Carby's), the total carbos were LESS than what the restaurants advertised.

Kudos to the fast food industry in getting involved in this. : )

Still on day 1 - had a bunless cheeseburger and 4 glasses of water for lunch.
For dinner - salad and a bunless hotdog.

Jen

Well, the food industry has marketed candies as "fat free". Now, I guess
they will market oil as "carb free"... When I think of how much the
marketing people are paid to come up with ideas like that, I wonder if I
should not switch job...

"Crafting Mom" wrote in message
...
At this point even sugar manufacturers don't need to worry. They can
make 1/2 teaspoon (2 whole grams of pure sugar) packets and label it
"only 2 carbs per packet!". People can still sweeten their coffee any
way they like grin/duck

On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 20:05:20 +0200, Lictor wrote:

Well, the food industry has marketed candies as "fat free". Now, I guess
they will market oil as "carb free"... When I think of how much the
marketing people are paid to come up with ideas like that, I wonder if I
should not switch job...

"Crafting Mom" wrote in message
...
At this point even sugar manufacturers don't need to worry. They can
make 1/2 teaspoon (2 whole grams of pure sugar) packets and label it
"only 2 carbs per packet!". People can still sweeten their coffee any
way they like grin/duck



What I think is the most idiotic thing is "Cholesterol free" on things
like canola oil and other plant-based products. Duh!

--
Bob in CT
Remove ".x" to reply

Bob in CT wrote:
What I think is the most idiotic thing is "Cholesterol free" on things
like canola oil and other plant-based products. Duh!

Do I ever agree! They present it in ads as if it were their own special
efforts that made it so.

CM

I f I were new at LC, I would be very worried - I saw mixed vegetables at the
GS labeled "Low CARB" - sure they were right next to the canned potatoes that
were higher in carbs but this is really misleading to someone just starting-
( the mixed veggies had potatoes, lima beans, corn, and
ppotato starch in them !! ) -

my worry is the more people following this WOE with these
"fringe" products the more their results will be lacking or lost, and the
medical field will once again pull away from supporting this WOE, and we will
be back where we were
10 years ago --

TasTyMorsL wrote:
:: I f I were new at LC, I would be very worried - I saw mixed
:: vegetables at the GS labeled "Low CARB" - sure they were right
:: next to the canned potatoes that were higher in carbs but this is
:: really misleading to someone just starting- ( the mixed veggies had
:: potatoes, lima beans, corn, and
:: ppotato starch in them !! ) -
::
:: my worry is the more people following this WOE with these
:: "fringe" products the more their results will be lacking or lost,
:: and the medical field will once again pull away from supporting this
:: WOE, and we will be back where we were
:: 10 years ago --

Leave me out of that we -- I refuse to go back to where I was 10 years ago.

Roger Zoul wrote:

Leave me out of that we -- I refuse to go back to where I was 10 years ago.


Ditto. I'm in the real food camp now, no turning back.
I wonder if Snackwells has caught on to the Low Carb movement
grin/duck

CM

LOL I don't even want to go back to 3 months ago :-)

247/220/200 since Feb 04

"Crafting Mom" wrote in message
...
Roger Zoul wrote:

Leave me out of that we -- I refuse to go back to where I was 10 years
ago.


Ditto. I'm in the real food camp now, no turning back.
I wonder if Snackwells has caught on to the Low Carb movement
grin/duck

CM