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Wed, March 3, 2004

Carb-free label diet

By PABLO FERNANDEZ, CALGARY SUN

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Calga.../03/367988.html

The low-carb gravy train is grinding to a halt for food manufacturers, as Health Canada prepares to clamp down on packaging profiting from the diet craze. Starting next year, prepared food producers won't be able to capitalize on carbohydrate-reduced diets with terms like "carb-free" and "low-carb," because there is not enough scientific evidence to support such claims benefit the consumer.

"This new regulation ... is to require manufacturers of packaged foods to use a more consistent way to provide accurate information in regards to their product labelling," said Health Canada spokeswoman Margot Geduld.

Major packaged food manufacturers have until December 2005, while smaller players in the industry have until 2007, to comply with the regulations that took effect in January 2003.

Although other labels such as "low in sodium" or "no saturated fats" are allowed if the claim is accurate, a product containing zero carbs won't be allowed a similar label, said Geduld.

The regulations took a long time to set up and those who drafted them "went with claims that were scientifically sound and with a lot of in-depth research," she said.

The low-carb fad, which is becoming an industry onto itself and the lifestyle change of choice for the nutrition-conscious, is the result of highly reported successes of weight-reduction programs, the base of which is low-carb eating.

Controversial diets such as Atkins and South Beach promote a high-protein approach to weight loss, and have drawn criticism from the scientific community.

"There's no scientific rationale for a low-carb diet," said Geduld.

Despite the new legislation, Canada's pizza giant Panago unveiled its new Low Carb Crust Monday, while ketchup behemoth Heinz sent its shares rocketing this quarter with the introduction of a low-carb line.