How To Properly Decipher Deceptive Food Labels by Dr. Robert Osgoodby

With today's health conscious consumer, food manufacturers are

well aware that a primary concern of the public is health and

eating healthy foods. Since marketing plays a huge role in

product sales, marketing tactics paint a blurry picture designed

to entice you, not educate you.

In an effort to provide the public with what they want, food

manufacturers use unclear marketing statements like "Reduced Fat"

and "98% Fat Free." Beware of products boasting these types of

claims. Just because a product label claims "reduced fat" or

"light" doesn't mean it's healthy, or low in fat.

There are several marketing descriptions companies use to coax

you to purchase a lower fat version of a product. The best way

to protect yourself and not fall prey to misleading marketing

tactics is to learn how to properly read product labels and

interpret common marketing catch phrases.

* Low Calorie - Fewer than 40 calories per serving.

* Low Fat - 3 grams of fat or less per serving.

* Low Cholesterol - 20 milligrams of cholesterol or less per

serving, and 2 grams or less of saturated fat per serving.

* Low Sodium - 140 milligrams or less per serving.

* Very Low Sodium - 35 milligrams or less per serving.

* Lean - Less than 10 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat,

and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per serving.

* Extra Lean - Less than 5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated

fat, and 95 milligrams of cholesterol per serving.

* Fat Free - Less than 0.5 grams of fat per serving

* Light - Half the fat of the regular version

* Reduced Fat - 25% less fat than the regular version

Whenever you are reading a label, the important things to take

into consideration for weight management are:

1. The number of calories per serving

Go to Page 2

BIO:

Dr. Osgoodby was a finalist in the "EAS Body for Life" Contest.
Stop by his web page at bestbodyever.com to see his before
and after pictures and subscribe to his monthly newsletter.

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