Oct 30 (HeartCenterOnline) - A recent study involving the analysis of 30 different nutrition bars has found that more than half (18) were inappropriately labeled. According to a report in the October 30, 2001 issue of The New York Times, an organization called ConsumerLab conducted the recent research. The study found that of the 30 bars tested, 15 had higher levels of carbohydrates, eight contained higher sugar levels, seven had higher sodium levels and two had higher fat levels than were listed on their nutrition labels.

According to The New York Times article, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also found similar problems in the past. The FDA has sent letter to 18 companies complaining about their labeling policies. Some of the issue centers on complex carbohydrate sweeteners such as polydextrose and glycerine. Some health bars using these products list the sweeteners under sugars but not under carbohydrates on the nutrition label. As a result, a health bar (often marketed as "low-carb") has a higher carbohydrate count than is listed on the food label.

The nutrition facts label was required as of May 1994, on most packaged foods. It helps consumers plan a nutritious diet and supports United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food policies as described in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Since its first appearance, the nutrition facts label has become a valuable guide for health- conscious consumers.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set rules for food companies to ensure that consumers are provided with adequate information about the product (e.g., how it is made and its nutritional content). Many of the rules are technical, such as where companies must place information, but many of those same rules make understanding a product much easier for the average consumer. For instance, the food label must include:
* The common name of the primary food, such as "rice" or "mixed vegetables."
* A way of measuring the amount of food, in net weight (in standard U.S. and metric weights).
* Information about the manufacturer or distributor of the item.
* The way the food is prepared, such as "pineapple slices" or "pineapple chunks."
* The percentage of juice in fruit or vegetable juice beverages.
* An ingredient list, with those with the greatest weight listed first.
* A nutrition facts label.
* Health claims.

A nutrition facts labels is an at-a-glance look at the nutrient content of a food product. Information listed on this label includes the following:

Required Information	Voluntary Information
Total calories Calories from fat Total fat Saturated fat Cholesterol Sodium Total carbohydrate Dietary fiber Sugars Protein Vita min A Vitamin C Calcium Iron	Calories from saturated fat Polyunsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat Potassium Soluble fiber, insoluble fiber Sugar alcohol, other carbohydrates Percentage vitamin A as beta-carotene Essential vitamins and minerals

Health claims, or nutrient content claims, are written messages on the food label that quickly inform a consumer of the nutritional value of a product. Examples of these messages are "A low-fat food," or "fat-free." The FDA has defined for the food industry what these claims mean and when they can be used.

More information can be found by visiting the following HeartCenterOnline topic centers and encyclopedia articles:
Nutrition Labeling
Nutritional Claims and Your Health
The Diet & Nutrition Center

Other news articles of interest can be found at the following links:
Consumer group targets 'misleading' food labels (Jul 27, 2001)
Group wants FDA to label phantom fat in foods (Jul 2, 2001)
Trans Fats Losers in Fat Fight (Dec 15, 2000)
New Food Labels Proposed by the FDA (Dec 1, 2000)

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