Diet Light is not necessarily lower in calories

Pay attention to nutritional information: Light products are not always low in calories
More and more people pay attention to the most healthy products possible. The food manufacturers have long reacted to this consumer trend and increasingly offer goods under the label "Light". However, such products are not necessarily calorie-makers, as consumer advocates explain.
"Light" does not mean poorer in calories
The trend towards a healthier diet is unbroken. More and more consumers want to eat more consciously and eat less calories. However, less fat in a product does not necessarily mean less fat on the hips. If consumers grab the "light" version in the supermarket, they do not necessarily buy the lower-calorie product. "Easy" does not say anything about the total calorie content. "It just means that a single nutrient must be reduced by at least 30 percent compared to similar products," said Daniela Krehl of the consumer advice center Bavaria.

Light products are not necessarily "lighter". Image: JenkoAtaman - fotolia

Missing fat is replaced with sugar
For example, if the information is based on fat, you may put more sugar in the food instead. As fat is an important flavor carrier, more sugar is added to some reduced-fat foods to provide better flavor. "Especially with fruit yoghurts, desserts or ready-made salad sauces, you should read the nutritional information very precisely and compare it with conventional products," says Krehl. Finished yoghurt dressings often make salads too heavy. Many nutrition experts generally do not recommend "light" products because they seduce you into eating more because you have "done something good" with it. In addition, some of the contained substitutes are harmful to human health. (Ad)