Are claims–like low-carb–legal on food packages?
No; carbohydrate claims have not been approved by the government. Technically, a label that says ‘low-carb’ or ‘no-carb’ is violating the law. The Food and Drug Administration has not issued regulations about carbohydrate claims. Companies are supposed to avoid false or misleading statements–but, for now, it is buyer beware. Q: What do all these carb terms really mean? A: The current low-carb terminology is essentially meaningless. ‘Net carbs,’ ‘impact carbs,’ and ‘effective carbs’ do not have standard definitions and no one is checking their accuracy. Companies get these numbers (which are of questionable clinical significance) by subtracting fiber and sugar alcohols from total carbohydrates. Q: What are sugar alcohols? A: Made from sugar, these compounds are used to sweeten foods. Sugar alcohols (ex., manitol, sorbitol, and xylitol) generally have fewer calories than sugar. They are converted to blood glucose, but at a slower rate than sugar or starch. CAUTION: High intakes of sugar
