Atkins pitas -- fuzzy math

rearden1 · 10-12-2004, 12:09 PM

Servings size: 1 pita
Calories: 80

However, there are:

2g fat ~ 18 calories
17g carbs ~ 68 calories
10g protein ~ 40 calories

Which adds to approximately 126 calories. Approximately 46 calories not reflected in the calories number. What's going on here?

Atkins_Nutritionist · 10-12-2004, 12:19 PM

You're correct, it doesn't add up. It is possible the label was printed incorrectly. Thanks for pointing this out. I will get to the bottom of this and let you know what I find out.

Atkins_Nutritionist · 10-12-2004, 01:57 PM

I just got off the phone with our senior food scientist. As you may be aware, the FDA regulates the information on the Nutrition Label and defines how items should be labeled. Sometime these definitions actually confuse consumer if they are not aware of the regulations and how they are defined, for example, a product can be labeled as having 0 trans fats when there is partially hydrogenated oils in the product as long as it is <0.5 g trans fats/serving. In addition, a product can be labeled as fat free even if there are <0.5 g fat/serving.

The way the calories have been labeled for the Pita is another case of how the FDA defines and regulates what goes on the label. Rounding is allowed, so that there may be actually be 1.5 g fat, 16.5 g carbs, and 9.5 g protein. Also, different types of fats, calories, and proteins contribute varying amounts of calories per gram. So fat may actually contribute 7.5 calories/gram instead of 9 and although this isn’t required by the FDA to be distinguished on the label, it can be reflected in the calories. Also, the composition of food varies greatly due to storage, way it was grown, etc which can also affect the macronutrient content. Also, rather than adding up the macronutrients to get the total calories, the calories can reflect what has been done in an actual product analysis, done by burning the product to see how much energy (calories) it yields.

So my answer to you verified from our food scientist is that the nutrition label for the Pita is absolutely accurate. I personally do not think the FDA always has the consumer in mind when defining and regulating nutrition information, and you probably agree. But all labels and nutrient content claims and health claims that appear on the packages are correct and you can trust that they are true, as long as you understand how things are defined and regulated. Net Carbs is not defined or regulated, and is often abused and misrepresented by many companies. That is why the Atkins Net Count has been developed. If you are not familiar with this term, you can learn more at www.atkins.com. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

10-12-2004, 12:09 PM	#1
rearden1 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 372 Gallery: rearden1 WOE: Introduced to low carbing by Protein Power	Atkins pitas -- fuzzy math Servings size: 1 pita Calories: 80 However, there are: 2g fat ~ 18 calories 17g carbs ~ 68 calories 10g protein ~ 40 calories Which adds to approximately 126 calories. Approximately 46 calories not reflected in the calories number. What's going on here?

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10-12-2004, 12:19 PM	#2
Atkins_Nutritionist Nutritionist Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Atkins Health and Medical Information Services Posts: 684 Gallery: Atkins_Nutritionist	You're correct, it doesn't add up. It is possible the label was printed incorrectly. Thanks for pointing this out. I will get to the bottom of this and let you know what I find out.

10-12-2004, 01:57 PM	#3
Atkins_Nutritionist Nutritionist Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Atkins Health and Medical Information Services Posts: 684 Gallery: Atkins_Nutritionist	I just got off the phone with our senior food scientist. As you may be aware, the FDA regulates the information on the Nutrition Label and defines how items should be labeled. Sometime these definitions actually confuse consumer if they are not aware of the regulations and how they are defined, for example, a product can be labeled as having 0 trans fats when there is partially hydrogenated oils in the product as long as it is <0.5 g trans fats/serving. In addition, a product can be labeled as fat free even if there are <0.5 g fat/serving. The way the calories have been labeled for the Pita is another case of how the FDA defines and regulates what goes on the label. Rounding is allowed, so that there may be actually be 1.5 g fat, 16.5 g carbs, and 9.5 g protein. Also, different types of fats, calories, and proteins contribute varying amounts of calories per gram. So fat may actually contribute 7.5 calories/gram instead of 9 and although this isn’t required by the FDA to be distinguished on the label, it can be reflected in the calories. Also, the composition of food varies greatly due to storage, way it was grown, etc which can also affect the macronutrient content. Also, rather than adding up the macronutrients to get the total calories, the calories can reflect what has been done in an actual product analysis, done by burning the product to see how much energy (calories) it yields. So my answer to you verified from our food scientist is that the nutrition label for the Pita is absolutely accurate. I personally do not think the FDA always has the consumer in mind when defining and regulating nutrition information, and you probably agree. But all labels and nutrient content claims and health claims that appear on the packages are correct and you can trust that they are true, as long as you understand how things are defined and regulated. Net Carbs is not defined or regulated, and is often abused and misrepresented by many companies. That is why the Atkins Net Count has been developed. If you are not familiar with this term, you can learn more at www.atkins.com. Please let me know if you have any further questions.