Quote:
Originally posted by Natrushka
Generally speaking the manufacturers do not subract the fiber. Put the fiber into the box indicated on the page with the calculator, but do not check the box next to it, unless you are sure that fiber has been subtracted on the product. If the manufacturer has done so, they usually indicate it. I have found that they tend to do this (subtract fiber) only when dealing with LC specific foods (Atkins Bake Mix, etc)
Nat
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Actually, I'm in the process of doing research on this very topic
In fact, manufacturers ARE pre-subtracting fiber before calculating the energy value (ie, calories) of foods, and they are not required by law to state that they have done so. And this is the case in both Canada and the US.
At first I thought this was terrible, but now I see that it makes sense. It just would be nice if there was some consistency .. but there isn't, since there is no official regulation in effect YET for the reporting of dietary fiber. But it is on the way.
'
We will need to rethink our carb-minus-fiber counts ... This practise was introduced in 1996 by the Eades in Protein Power ... they use the term "effective carbs". So, all lowcarbers, no matter what program they've been following, hopped on the bandwagon, and started subtracting fiber grams so that they could eat more carbs. Great idea for vegetables and whole grains ... not great for the Frankenfoods, and processed, refined, laboratory-created stuff like the bars, mixes and candies. (For the record -- sugar alcohols, glycerine, polydextrose etc ... are indeed carbs, but no FDA classification yet ... that's why manufacturers get away with not declaring them in the nutrient data).
However, many processed food labels are now pre-subtracting the fiber ... meaning you do NOT subtract it again. So a food that lists 11g carbs and 12g fiber .... does NOT have less than zero carb grams in it. The manufacturer is listing that the food has 11g
digestible carbs that will contribute calories affecting blood sugar and insulin and ALSO contains 12g dietary fiber, which does NOT contribute calories or affect blood sugar and insulin levels. Previously, the food would have listed 23g total carbs, and we would have subtracted the 12g fiber to get 11g effective carbs.
It is very confusing right now, since the changes were proposed in October 2000, but have not yet become law. But my opinion is that it will be a good thing, once there is consistency, and everyone is doing the same thing. By looking at the food label, we'll be able to see at a glance how many effective carbs there are in a food, without having to do the math ... it will already have been done for us.
Right now, it seems that manufacturers are doing this for "high fiber" foods, ie .. the food provides 4 or more grams of dietary fiber per serving. Which makes it confusing ... because some foods with LESS than 4g fiber per serving are still including the fiber in both the calorie and the carb count. Grrrr!!!
So for now, we still need to do the math for ourselves. This is good incentive to stick to whole, unprocessed, unrefined foods. At least you know what you're getting
Doreen