Restaurant and Packaged Food Calories Counts Frequently Underreported

A recent study by Stanford University showed that Starbucks' customers are reducing their calorie intake once they can see the calorie counts of items. Unfortunately, another study shows that what they think they may be saving may not be the case.

The study, led by Susan Roberts, a professor of nutrition at Tufts University, was published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. The study analyzed the calories of 18 side dishes and entrees from national sit-down chain restaurants, 11 side dishes and entrees from national fast food restaurants and 10 frozen meals purchased at grocery stores. The results are eye-opening, or perhaps, belt-loosening.

At the restaurants, calorie counts averaged 18 percent more than the values listed. In terms of the frozen means, including those offered by diet firms Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers, and Healthy Choice, the average was 8 percent higher than the numbers on the label.

According to the study, five of the restaurants offered free side dishes which were not factored into the calorie information provided for the entrees. On average, the study said, the side dishes contained more calories than the entrées they accompanied.

While seeming strange, this is simply the same as has been noted many times. The amount of food provided in an American restaurant meal is hugely oversized when compared to what a meal "should be," in terms of health.

It seems also clear from the study, that it's difficult to generate actual calorie counts for restaurant portions, as it's not possible to get each portion exactly the same size. Roberts said the following:

“We tested frozen foods straight out of their packages. For the restaurant foods we first calculated calorie content based on the portion we were served. When we went one step further and calculated calorie content based on the portion size listed on the restaurant’s nutrition literature, the discrepancies between our results and the restaurant’s results decreased, which suggests oversized portions were part of the problem.”

The conclusions are that consumers should take calorie information on restaurant websites and posted at restaurant, as well as on food packaging, with a grain of salt. They also need to remember, it's not necessary to finish your entire meal at a restaurant, despite what your mother may have told you.

Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com

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