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5 weeks ago (edited)
Misleading Fat Claims
In today’s lesson, “Misleading Fat Claims“, from the full course ‘Intro to Reading Food Labels‘, we’re breaking down how food marketing can trick you — especially when it comes to “light” or low-fat claims.
Understanding Calories from Fat
- Check the Nutrition Facts label — some products show how many calories come from fat.
- If it’s not listed, you can figure it out easily: 1 gram of fat = 9 calories.
- Example: A product with 6g of fat has about 54 calories from fat (6 × 9). Labels may round the number slightly.
Why “Light” Isn’t Always Light
- “Light” claims are allowed if fat is reduced by ≥50% or calories are ⅓ less than the original.
- Sneaky trick: Manufacturers can add water or other ingredients to make it seem “light” — but the fat content can still be high.
🌟 Why it matters: Don’t be fooled by front-of-package claims. Always check the Nutrition Facts and ingredients — that’s how you know what you’re really eating.
💬 Your turn: Have you ever bought a “light” or “low-fat” product that didn’t feel as healthy as you expected? What did you discover when you checked the label?
