Experts warn against deceptive packagingReducing fat doesn't make you slim! Calorie trap in the supermarket

Do you feel better when you grab a product off the shelf that has words like “reduced fat,” “low fat,” and “no fat” emblazoned on it? But the expectations that, in addition to lower amounts of fat, it also contains less energy and therefore calories are not always met, according to the Federal Association of the “Consumer Initiative”.

Which statements about nutrient content may be used and which conditions the products must meet are regulated by food law. But which term means what? The “Consumer Initiative” explains:

If a food is advertised as “reduced fat”, it must contain at least 30 percent less fat than comparable products. “But look carefully at what kind of product it is. High-fat foods such as salami, liver sausage, cream, crème fraîche or potato chips do not become low-fat and low-energy products just because they contain 30 percent less fat than the originals,” explains Alexandra Borchard-Becker, specialist at the “Consumer Initiative”.

This also applies to products that are described as “energy-reduced” or “light”. Energy-reduced foods must contain at least 30 percent fewer calories and “light” means that they provide at least 30 percent less energy, fat or sugar than comparable products.

But here too the devil is in the details. However, it must be clear what the term “light” or “light” refers to, such as “reduced energy” or “reduced fat content”. The specialist advises looking carefully at the list of ingredients and the nutritional table in order to be able to assess the products.

Borchard-Becker also points out that “light” foods often cost more than products with similar nutritional values ​​without a special claim. Cheeses with 30 percent fat in the dry matter, fruit yoghurts with 1.5 percent fat or lean cold cuts such as cooked ham and turkey breast are often cheaper alternatives to light cheese, yoghurt or salami.

You can be more confident if the terms “low fat” and “no fat” appear on the products – because they are precisely defined. Then, for “low-fat” foods, no more than 3 g of fat is allowed in 100 g or a maximum of 0.5 g of fat in 100 g if it says “without fat”.

Sometimes sweets such as gummies will emphasize that they are “fat-free.” That's true, but the products provide plenty of sugar and therefore energy.

Sources used: awi/dpa