What Exactly Are Light Foods?
October 20, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under Weight Loss
Anyone that has gone on any type of diet or lifestyle change can attest to the confusion when it comes to labelling on packaging. Words such as light, or lite or low-fat, no-fat, low sodium, no sodium etc., are thrown around like wet noodles. Unfortunately when you start reading the ingredients you may see fat or sodium or a myriad of other ingredients listed. SO what gives? The package says low-fat or no-fat but there is fat in the package. Mislabel? Misleading? None of the above.
In the US the FTC handles package labelling and the FDA defines the meanings of the various terms and how they can be applied, so what is posted here is based on information referenced from the FTC site. I have provided links for you to follow.
First up – what does LIGHT mean when it comes to food packaging?
According to the FTC:
Although the term “light” is defined in FDA’s regulations as a comparative descriptor, the term also has been used to describe the food itself, much like an absolute descriptor such as “low.” As reflected in FDA’s preamble and regulations, the term also is associated chiefly with substantial reductions in fat or calories. See 58 Fed. Reg. 2351-2358. Given the unique characteristics of the term “light” as reflected in FDA’s regulations, it is unlikely that the term can be used in advertising without undue confusion unless the food meets FDA’s definitions. Accordingly, the Commission will apply FDA’s definition for “light” in determining whether advertising using the term is deceptive.
So what does the FDA have to say about the meaning of the term “light” – first off you can read their technical/scientific page on various food labelling guidelines.
In Canada visit http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/guide/ch4ae.shtml
In the UK visit http://www.food.gov.uk/foodlabelling/
Another US site http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&tax_level=1&tax_subject=273
Here is a handy list that I put together based on the information found from the FDA site – E&OE:
LIGHT
Means that it contains at least 50% less fat or 50% less calories furnished by the fat.
CALORIE-FREE
Less of 0.5 grams of the total fat of the “original reference”.
% FAT-FREE
Products which are marked as ___% fat free should contain 3 o less grams of the total fat of the “original reference”.
CHOLESTEROL-FREE
Less than 2 milligrams cholesterol of the “original reference” or 2 grams or less of saturated fat of the “original reference”.
SATURATED FAT-FREE
Less than 5 grams of the “original reference” and no more than 0.5 grams of acid fats.
LOW-FAT
3 or less grams of total fat of the “original reference”
LOW-CALORIE
No more than 40 calories of the “original reference” (except sugar substitutes).
LOW-CHOLESTEROL
20 milligrams or less cholesterol and 2 grams or less saturated fat of the “original reference”.
LOW-SATURATED FAT
1 gram or less saturated fat of the “original reference” and not more than 15% less calories of saturated fat.
ORIGINAL REFERENCE
It is the product which the industry uses as basis for the comparison.
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