From
http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/05/02/serving-sizes-what-a-joke/“If there is one datum that throws off the entire purpose of the nutrition facts panel, it has got to
be the serving size. We take a quick glance at the calories and fat content, but often don’t
register that the serving size is not even close to what we actually consume. As a result we
(usually) end up consuming much more calories than we think.
In a recent consumer survey by Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert, a full 92% of consumers said
they find it hard to relate what they eat to the printed ‘serving size’ on the package.
The FDA mandates that serving size appear in 2 formats – a weight, and an easily assessable
household measure. For example – 3 ounces, 1 cookie. Or 27 grams, half a cup. But in the
case of some products, the values don’t make sense.
Here are a few of our “favorite” examples:
1. A serving of Oreo’s is a mere 3 cookies. Hah.
2. Fig Newtons – 2 cookies. Double hah.
3. Leading brand potato chips serving size is 14 or 16 chips, depending on the package size.
Alternatively it’s 1 ounce. Show me an ounce of chips.
4. A cereal serving size of 1 ounce. Most people consume 50% more at least.
5. Soft drinks. A serving is 8 fl oz (1 cup), but many single serve bottles are twice that size.
6. Ice cream – half a cup. What is that, a third of a scoop?
Supposedly, the serving sizes are based on the average of what people consume. In the US, not
Lilliput
to present a more healthy product.”1. But most manufacturers try to print the lowest number they can get away with in order
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