'LOW-FAT' foods can
contain a similar number of calories as the standard versions and might have
more sugar.
A new study found three-in-five consumers eat low-fat and light
foods several times a week thinking they are a healthier option.
But a "snapshot sample" of 12 products labelled as
low-fat, reduced and light found some minimal differences in calorie content.
A standard McVitie's chocolate digestive contained 85 calories and
a light one had 77 -- the lighter one contains less fat but more sugar.
And a Tesco low-fat yoghurt had more calories per pot at 130 than a
standard Activia version at 123, while the Tesco option contained more sugar at
20.2g -- more than four teaspoons -- than the 16.9g in the Activia pot.
And while Kelloggs Special K is marketed as a diet food, it
contains more calories than Bran Flakes -- which also has a higher fibre
content that would help you feel fuller for longer.
UK consumer watchdog 'Which?' found misconceptions among consumers
about the meaning of the terms 'reduced fat' and 'light'.
Identical rules on nutritional labelling apply in both Ireland and
the UK under EU rules.
These require 'low fat' foods to contain less than 3pc fat, while
'reduced' 'light' or 'lite' products must have 30pc less fat or saturated fat
than the standard product.
United Biscuits, which makes the McVitie's chocolate digestive,
said the report was misleading as it focused on calories and "ignored the
fact that the light version had 30pc less fat".
A Tesco spokeswoman said: "We take seriously our
responsibility to help our customers make healthy choices. Our products display
clear nutritional information on the front of the packaging."
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