Frightening Food Facts

We have covered cockroach milk and added sugars now let’s jump into my soapbox, food labels.

Stop getting pulled into the health halo and start looking closely at the nutrition facts labels on the back of food products. Why? Because the front of the container LIES all day long!

“Free” doesn’t mean free when it comes to our food.

| Nutrients per Serving | Free | Low | Reduced/Less | Light (Lite) | | Calories | Less than 5 calories | 40 calories or less | At last 25% fewer calories | At least 1/3 fewer calories | | Fat | Less than 0.5 gm fat | 3 gm or less fat | At least 25% less fat | At least 50% less fat | | Saturated Fat | Less than 0.5 gm saturated fat | 1 gm or less saturated fat and no more than 15% of calories from saturated fat | At least 25% less saturated fat | Not used | | Cholesterol | Less than 2 mg cholesterol and 2 gm or less saturated fat | 20 mg or less cholesterol and 2 gm or less saturated fat | At least 25% less cholesterol and 2 gm or less saturated fat | Not used | | Sodium | Less than 5 mg sodium | 140 mg or less sodium | At least 25% less sodium | At least 50% less sodium | | Sugar | Less than 1.2 gm sugars | Not a legal claim | At least 25% less sugar | Not used |

Photo Source: http://www.pamcookingspray.com/products/original

Sources:

https://www.bestfoodfacts.org/deciphering-food-label-clues/

http://www.fda.gov/food/ingredientspackaginglabeling/labelingnutrition/ucm2006860.htm

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/food/newsevents/workshopsmeetingsconferences/ucm403517.pdf

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyEating/SimpleCookingwithHeart/Using-Food-Labels-As-A-Shopping-Guide_UCM_430119_Article.jsp#.WBf9MNUrKpo

http://www.esha.com/labeling-compliance/nutrition-facts-label-industry-resources/

http://www.crisco.com/products/all-vegetable-shortening-17-315