The acutual carb count would be the 17 - that would be including the malitol, which it appears they have pre-subtracted from the carb count, so in essense they are giving the effective carb count on the label and not the total carb count. As some people (Dr. Atkins included) beleive that sugar alcohols (malitol) do not have the same effect on blood sugar and insulin spikes as other carbohydrates.