Lowcarb Liars (a rant)!

[nawchem]

I've made the mistake of not reading the label closely a few times but this one is really deceptive. I bought a CarbWatchers Gourmet Sugar-Free Dark Chocolate Pistachio Creme Bar, made with belgian chocolate. At 1oz. its smaller than any of the other LC Bars. Well I looked at the little yellow box under the flap 3g sugar alchohols.

This is the best LC chocolate I ever had. I kept looking at the nutrition facts trying to figure out how it could taste this good. Well guess what? Its 5 servings!

I wouldn't mind eating 15g of sugar alchohols. That's pretty standard in those crappy tasting bars. But please why the deception?

The numbers don't even add up so I wonder if it really is 15g.

per serving:
cal: 30 x 5 = 150 cal
fat cal: 20 x 5 = 100 cal
fat gram 3: 9x3x5 = 135 cal
carbs: 0
SA: 3g
fiber: 0
protein: 0


I found the email for the Communications Director christinam~labrada.com
I did tell her the deceptive label made me question the quality of the manufacturing process as well. Lowcarbers just want to know what the real number of carbs is that we're eating. We'll see what happens.

[stephiewil]

It really shocks me what they consider a serving now a days. They make the servings as small as possible so they can give the lowest calories fat and carbs, knowing people will mistake the serving amount and not know that, for example, a bar is five servings. We have to be diligent as consumers to make sure we know what we are eating. It is a good thing that you read it so you will know next time what you are eating. Stephie :)

[nawchem]

That really frustrates me. Thats pretty much all my carbs for the day. So I guess no vegetables.

[kbfunTH]

The 3g SA is misleading too. People will eat it not counting the 3grams as part of their total carb intake. You had 15grams in one bar.

[nawchem]

I know! And they know. And now they know I know. :p

I put the information in the lowcarb calculator and it came out 20. Shesh.

[Samuel]

I wouldn't mind eating 15g of sugar alchohols. That's pretty standard in those crappy tasting bars. But please why the deception?


Actually, it could be worse than what you are expecting. As Dr. Atkins once said, these manufacturers can round 0.99 grams to zero. This is probably why they made it 5 servings. It could have 4.5 carbs, so when divided into 5 servings, carbs/serving could be rounded to zero.

[nawchem]

Actually, it could be worse than what you are expecting. As Dr. Atkins once said, these manufacturers can round 0.99 grams to zero. This is probably why they made it 5 servings. It could have 4.5 carbs, so when divided into 5 servings, carbs/serving could be rounded to zero.

I never knew that. Gee I'm bringing my calculator with me to the store and analyzing everything. You wouldn't believe how many of these tricks I've fallen for.

[dmcfad2]

I know! And they know. And now they know I know. :p

I put the information in the lowcarb calculator and it came out 20. Shesh.
Where do you get a low carb calculator? It sounds like something I need.

[nawchem]

I just use the one on this site- its on the top green bar under tools. It tells when the nutritional information isn't adding up, meaning there are carbs in the product that they didn't put on the label.

When I use my own calculator I just count it as
protein 4 cal/carb
fat 9 cal/carb
carbs 4 cal/carb

so the calories I get from the grams on the label should be the same as the total calories they have on the label.

(Your hair is stunning)!

[DanceGrrrl]

I had a problem with that chocolate too, it was so good but I had to put the bar in the freezer so I would only have one square a day. Thanks for alerting everyone else though. It's easy to eat the atkins chocolate (three cups is one serving) but that chocolate is deceptive!

[bkloots]

A girl's gotta have chocolate once in a while! Sorry you got hoodwinked.

Here's my recent find. Just my luck they'll be discontinued:

Belgian Obsession Sugar-Free Dark Chocolate at Walgreen's.
Net wt. 1.4 oz
150 cals
13 gms carb/maltitol

This bar is divided into four squares. I find that I can stop with one or two squares when I need a chocolate fix. Not a bad indulgence!

[dmcfad2]

Thanks for the info about the calculator. I like that!!

[nawchem]

I received a prompt reply from the company that makes the carbwatcher products.

I'm going to check this out!

Belgian Obsession Sugar-Free Dark Chocolate at Walgreen's.
Net wt. 1.4 oz
150 cals
13 gms carb/maltitol


Thank you for your concern regarding this matter.
Unfortunately, the sugar free chocolates have been discontinued.


Patricia L. Hatton
Research & Development
Labrada Nutrition

[bkloots]

Please note that the Belgian Obsession Chocolates are NOT the subject of the original rant. And I hope, hope, hope to keep finding them at Walgreen's. :thup: