Serving Sizes - regulation?
Discussion
Who dictates what a serving size is when food manufactures display nutritional info on their packaging?
Considering they have to go to great lengths having food tested in labs to display accurate nutritional info, it see strange then that they are allowed to use such unrealistic serving sizes.
Most pizzas show a serving size of a quarter. Most people I know eat a whole pizza as a serving (these are just average frozen pizzas - maybe 14''? The calories, fat, saturates at first glance look half acceptable but multiply by four and some are above your recommended daily allowance.
Another one was a little pot of seeds - 60g packet. Serving size 25g. It's bearly a handful! And cakes are quite often 1/14th!
On a seperate note, I know drinks in pubs will soon have to display calorie content - thinking about it now, I can't believe it's taken this long for that too happen.
Considering they have to go to great lengths having food tested in labs to display accurate nutritional info, it see strange then that they are allowed to use such unrealistic serving sizes.
Most pizzas show a serving size of a quarter. Most people I know eat a whole pizza as a serving (these are just average frozen pizzas - maybe 14''? The calories, fat, saturates at first glance look half acceptable but multiply by four and some are above your recommended daily allowance.
Another one was a little pot of seeds - 60g packet. Serving size 25g. It's bearly a handful! And cakes are quite often 1/14th!
On a seperate note, I know drinks in pubs will soon have to display calorie content - thinking about it now, I can't believe it's taken this long for that too happen.
swerni said:
Do you not think a large part of the problem is what people deem an acceptable portion?
Surely its down to the individual to decide what is acceptable. One person might be quite content with what is deemed an individual portion, another may require more to satisfy their hunger. Yes I agree with you that people should be healthier. But remember a lot of people won't even care what they eat so won't even look at the nutritional info.
I'm referring more to people who are actually trying to make a change and be healthier, who are looking at this sort of info. It's very easy to be misled - u pick up a pizza box, glance at the info and see a range of numbers which appear to be within a health(ish) range because u miss the small print saying its per 1/4 of a pizza.
I think most people would agree that if you are going to have a pizza, you are going to eat it all (we aren't talking huge pizzas here).
I'm referring more to people who are actually trying to make a change and be healthier, who are looking at this sort of info. It's very easy to be misled - u pick up a pizza box, glance at the info and see a range of numbers which appear to be within a health(ish) range because u miss the small print saying its per 1/4 of a pizza.
I think most people would agree that if you are going to have a pizza, you are going to eat it all (we aren't talking huge pizzas here).
torqueofthedevil said:
Yes I agree with you that people should be healthier. But remember a lot of people won't even care what they eat so won't even look at the nutritional info.
I'm referring more to people who are actually trying to make a change and be healthier, who are looking at this sort of info. It's very easy to be misled - u pick up a pizza box, glance at the info and see a range of numbers which appear to be within a health(ish) range because u miss the small print saying its per 1/4 of a pizza.
I think most people would agree that if you are going to have a pizza, you are going to eat it all (we aren't talking huge pizzas here).
So we should change the information on packaging because of a few fI'm referring more to people who are actually trying to make a change and be healthier, who are looking at this sort of info. It's very easy to be misled - u pick up a pizza box, glance at the info and see a range of numbers which appear to be within a health(ish) range because u miss the small print saying its per 1/4 of a pizza.
I think most people would agree that if you are going to have a pizza, you are going to eat it all (we aren't talking huge pizzas here).
king morons who can't read properly?No. No we shouldn't.
torqueofthedevil said:
Yes I agree with you that people should be healthier. But remember a lot of people won't even care what they eat so won't even look at the nutritional info.
I'm referring more to people who are actually trying to make a change and be healthier, who are looking at this sort of info. It's very easy to be misled - u pick up a pizza box, glance at the info and see a range of numbers which appear to be within a health(ish) range because u miss the small print saying its per 1/4 of a pizza.
I think most people would agree that if you are going to have a pizza, you are going to eat it all (we aren't talking huge pizzas here).
to be fair, if you're that concerned with health you'd not be going near frozen pizza.I'm referring more to people who are actually trying to make a change and be healthier, who are looking at this sort of info. It's very easy to be misled - u pick up a pizza box, glance at the info and see a range of numbers which appear to be within a health(ish) range because u miss the small print saying its per 1/4 of a pizza.
I think most people would agree that if you are going to have a pizza, you are going to eat it all (we aren't talking huge pizzas here).
pizza base+passanta+bits and bobs, takes 5 mins, not stuffed full of salt and sugar and chemicals
I'd assumed it was simply so you could compare 2 products easily.
Looking at the "nutritional info per pizza" if pizza A is 500g and pizza B is 450g isn't the quickest to compare whilst info per 100g means everything is level.
It's like with pricing, I find it quite useful to see if I'm paying more per 100g depending on how I buy a product.
Looking at the "nutritional info per pizza" if pizza A is 500g and pizza B is 450g isn't the quickest to compare whilst info per 100g means everything is level.
It's like with pricing, I find it quite useful to see if I'm paying more per 100g depending on how I buy a product.
swerni said:
How come previous generations weren't as fat and yes had less information?
Yes per 100g is worthwhile because it allows a comparison.
What isn't clear is the coloured 'tabs' which show calories / fat / carbs etc as you expect this to be per proper portion size.
I don't deny a frozen pizza is unhealthy I'm just using it as an example and a lot of people even healthy ones will eat the odd pizza.
With regards to all packaging being changed because people can't read, I just think that it's intentionally misleading and quite obviously so. Seems strange that they get away with it.
What isn't clear is the coloured 'tabs' which show calories / fat / carbs etc as you expect this to be per proper portion size.
I don't deny a frozen pizza is unhealthy I'm just using it as an example and a lot of people even healthy ones will eat the odd pizza.
With regards to all packaging being changed because people can't read, I just think that it's intentionally misleading and quite obviously so. Seems strange that they get away with it.
swerni said:
Pizza's are massively fattening, if you're going to be healthy don't eat one.
You don't need a label to tell you that.
Everything in moderation. A pizza once or twice a month if fine if you balance that with fruit, veg and generally eating healthy. You don't need a label to tell you that.
swerni said:
Cotty people can eat want the want, but the majority of individuals are overweight, so their judgement is clearly impared
Most peoele who eat what you do aren't scrawny.
Its a balance. Im quite happy with a bowl of soup, large salad, sandwich etc at work and if I want a blow out at the weekend its fine. But I don't eat large all the time and even if I do there is a lot of veg and lean meat there. Most peoele who eat what you do aren't scrawny.
NoNeed said:
As a type 1 diabetic that has to take the correct amount on insulin for all the carbs consumed I would say that this is essential.
It's not all about lazy fat fkers
Yup. I hate the mandatory 'per 100g' when the product is a 250ml bottle of lassi. No idea how much insulin to take.It's not all about lazy fat f
kersServing sizes are often unrealistic.
I ahve seen 'one pot' products which are clearly designed to be eaten by one person in one sitting (chilled) yet the serving size is for half the pot. These are lunchtime snacks that you buy and eat on the day.
The advantage to making servings so small is that it means they can make the product look healthier than it probably is taking into account average eating habits.
That is why the mandatory per 100g is good.
I ahve seen 'one pot' products which are clearly designed to be eaten by one person in one sitting (chilled) yet the serving size is for half the pot. These are lunchtime snacks that you buy and eat on the day.
The advantage to making servings so small is that it means they can make the product look healthier than it probably is taking into account average eating habits.
That is why the mandatory per 100g is good.
Edited by Mojooo on Sunday 18th January 15:03
Its not hard.
If its for 1/4 of a pizza and you eat a whole pizza, then times it by 4. If they marked it according to the whole packet then you would have to divide it (but all the markings would be red). Regardless of how they mark it, the whole pizza will have the same mount of lard in it!
Face it, peole eat too much crap, and moaning about the recommended portion size isn't going to make you thin.
If its for 1/4 of a pizza and you eat a whole pizza, then times it by 4. If they marked it according to the whole packet then you would have to divide it (but all the markings would be red). Regardless of how they mark it, the whole pizza will have the same mount of lard in it!
Face it, peole eat too much crap, and moaning about the recommended portion size isn't going to make you thin.
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