Date post: | 27-May-2015 |
Category: |
Business |
Upload: | lookingafteryourself |
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MYTHBUSTERS!How to read food labels
Claim: 97% fat free & ‘light’
What does this mean?
Product must contain less than 3g of fat per 100g
Always check the Nutrition Information Panel
‘Light’ does not always mean low fat
Claim: Very High in Fibre
What does this mean?
Again, check the Nutrition Information Panel; a product must contain 20g of fibre per 100g to be claimed as ‘high fibre’
Claim: Low Gi
What does this mean?
GI level refers to the Glycemic index of a food – that is, the effect of carbohydrates in a food on insulin levels.
For a product to claim ‘low GI’, the food must have an index level of 55 or below
Claim: No added sugar
What does this mean?
Product must contain no added sugar Natural sugars are allowed There are many different ‘names’ for
sugar, including corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, molasses – watch out for these on ingredient listings
Claims: Guaranteed wholegrain, helps lower cholesterol re-absorption
What does this mean?
Be wary of products simply ‘adding’ health claims to packaging, these are not government regulated
Such claims are often more a marketing tool, used to persuade consumers
It is always vital to read the nutrition information panel to check for hidden additives, fats, sugars etc.
Claim: ‘Light’
What does this mean?
Look carefully! Although the ice cream product on the right claims to be ‘light’ and 97% fat free, both products actually contain the same RDI of energy! This is a common trap with ‘low fat’ or ‘light’ products.