"Funny" Food Marketing
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It annoys me to see small individual packets of foods that most would think of as single serve that are actually multiple servings. I know they do this so that people will read the label and think, that's not as many calories as I thought and buy it, when actually there are 4, 100 calorie servings in the package. If individual sized packages are advertised as xxx calories, that should be the calorie information for that whole package.
Just goes back to having to read the label.
Also, although others have mentioned the need for gluten free labeling, I find the label of "gluten free" on dairy products to be annoying. It may be "necessary", but I find it hard to believe that selling the stuff to ignorant people who don't know what gluten free is and think that it is in and of itself helpful for weight loss is not at least part of the reason that put that label on the bag of cheese.5 -
It annoys me to see small individual packets of foods that most would think of as single serve that are actually multiple servings. I know they do this so that people will read the label and think, that's not as many calories as I thought and buy it, when actually there are 4, 100 calorie servings in the package. If individual sized packages are advertised as xxx calories, that should be the calorie information for that whole package.
Just goes back to having to read the label.
Also, although others have mentioned the need for gluten free labeling, I find the label of "gluten free" on dairy products to be annoying. It may be "necessary", but I find it hard to believe that selling the stuff to ignorant people who don't know what gluten free is and think that it is in and of itself helpful for weight loss is not at least part of the reason that put that label on the bag of cheese.
Yes, like a single microwaveable tray of frozen mac-n-cheese being 300 calories/serving, but the label says 2 servings per container. It's a small tray and it's not in 2 compartments.2 -
Not one that I have fallen for but one that just bugs the shiz out of me - 'gluten free' stickers on packages of steak. Also fat free and gluten free stickers on candies like twizzlers.
One of the first ingredients in Twizzlers/generic licorice twists is flour -- or at least it was 8 years ago when I found out I had a wheat allergy and died a little inside. Where did you see gluten-free Twizzlers?1 -
brittdee88 wrote: »Not one that I have fallen for but one that just bugs the shiz out of me - 'gluten free' stickers on packages of steak. Also fat free and gluten free stickers on candies like twizzlers.
One of the first ingredients in Twizzlers/generic licorice twists is flour -- or at least it was 8 years ago when I found out I had a wheat allergy and died a little inside. Where did you see gluten-free Twizzlers?
I stand corrected... maybe it was 'fat free', I dunno...2 -
Ditto all the 'fat free' stuff...2
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Not one that I have fallen for but one that just bugs the shiz out of me - 'gluten free' stickers on packages of steak. Also fat free and gluten free stickers on candies like twizzlers.
Twizzler's shouldn't labeled gluten free. They most certainly habe wheat flour. That's what makes them bendy.0 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »DebLaBounty wrote: »I saw a “gluten free” label on rice. Well, duh.
Again, a lot of the gluten free labeling is like peanut free labeling. It means there is no possibility of cross-contamination and is of concern to celiacs and those with gluten intolerance.
The gluten-free haircuts signs are just meant to be funny
I've seen rice products NOT be gluten free. Like Rice-a-Roni and other seasoned rice products. It's all fun and games until your kid has Celiac.3 -
Some candies may be dusted with confection sugar or cornstarch to prevent sticking. Maybe the gluten free label is assurance the powder is not wheat based?
I have an issue with cholesterol free on tubs of margarine or vegetable based spread. Yes, cholesterol is found in animal derived products, but when I see all that fat my mind says otherwise.1 -
Ugh.
I'll take my treat in brownie or cupcake form, tyvm.3 -
Those 'zero calorie' butter sprays. 2nd and 3rd ingredients are oils
I always wonder how many people who say they log every calorie even know that they should log 10 calories per squirt of I Can't Believe it's Not Butter spray (note you aren't likely to just spray 1g so adding 10 to your log per spray is a good guideline to follow). It's only through labelling law magic that you can have a margarine spray that has the exact calories as regular solid margarine become calorie free! Most people will put several squirts on their popcorn and other foods and have no idea that they just added around 100 calories to their food without realizing it. I've pointed this out to several people who were genuinely surprised by this simple fact.5 -
Wheelhouse15 wrote: »Those 'zero calorie' butter sprays. 2nd and 3rd ingredients are oils
I always wonder how many people who say they log every calorie even know that they should log 10 calories per squirt of I Can't Believe it's Not Butter spray (note you aren't likely to just spray 1g so adding 10 to your log per spray is a good guideline to follow). It's only through labelling law magic that you can have a margarine spray that has the exact calories as regular solid margarine become calorie free! Most people will put several squirts on their popcorn and other foods and have no idea that they just added around 100 calories to their food without. I've pointed this out to several people who were genuinely surprised by this simple fact.
It's extremely difficult to find the entry that actually lists the calories too. I found one though.2 -
Well, i,buy light because its less calories. Light Ranch is like half the calories. Why wouldn't i if i like the flavour?
I compare labels. What do i get more food for less calories. Nothing wrong with that.5 -
Wheelhouse15 wrote: »Those 'zero calorie' butter sprays. 2nd and 3rd ingredients are oils
I always wonder how many people who say they log every calorie even know that they should log 10 calories per squirt of I Can't Believe it's Not Butter spray (note you aren't likely to just spray 1g so adding 10 to your log per spray is a good guideline to follow). It's only through labelling law magic that you can have a margarine spray that has the exact calories as regular solid margarine become calorie free! Most people will put several squirts on their popcorn and other foods and have no idea that they just added around 100 calories to their food without realizing it. I've pointed this out to several people who were genuinely surprised by this simple fact.
It's still water as first ingredient though. I weighed my pan the other day and got 3g of pam on it, and I still had no idea how to log it (I think I counted 15 calories).
Or I was making a cake years ago using Splenda (never again) and couldn't for the life of me find an entry that had the actual calorie count for one cup of it... they all said 0 a serving. Sigh.0 -
It annoys me to see small individual packets of foods that most would think of as single serve that are actually multiple servings. I know they do this so that people will read the label and think, that's not as many calories as I thought and buy it, when actually there are 4, 100 calorie servings in the package. If individual sized packages are advertised as xxx calories, that should be the calorie information for that whole package.
Just goes back to having to read the label.
Also, although others have mentioned the need for gluten free labeling, I find the label of "gluten free" on dairy products to be annoying. It may be "necessary", but I find it hard to believe that selling the stuff to ignorant people who don't know what gluten free is and think that it is in and of itself helpful for weight loss is not at least part of the reason that put that label on the bag of cheese.
Yes! Like with instant ramen noodles. Or Pop Tarts. Why you gotta have two servings in there?0 -
To this day when I see or hear a funny marketing slogan I still think about when Life Savers were labeled "A Fat Free Food".2
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Piggy backing on the fat free bandwagon, remember the Olestra chips from the 90's?1
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karintalley wrote: »Well, i,buy light because its less calories. Light Ranch is like half the calories. Why wouldn't i if i like the flavour?
I compare labels. What do i get more food for less calories. Nothing wrong with that.
Many times products listed as "low fat"/"fat free" are loaded up with extra sugar, starches and sodium.
Personal preference of course, but I'd rather have less of the full fat.2 -
Wheelhouse15 wrote: »Those 'zero calorie' butter sprays. 2nd and 3rd ingredients are oils
I always wonder how many people who say they log every calorie even know that they should log 10 calories per squirt of I Can't Believe it's Not Butter spray (note you aren't likely to just spray 1g so adding 10 to your log per spray is a good guideline to follow). It's only through labelling law magic that you can have a margarine spray that has the exact calories as regular solid margarine become calorie free! Most people will put several squirts on their popcorn and other foods and have no idea that they just added around 100 calories to their food without realizing it. I've pointed this out to several people who were genuinely surprised by this simple fact.
It's still water as first ingredient though. I weighed my pan the other day and got 3g of pam on it, and I still had no idea how to log it (I think I counted 15 calories).
Or I was making a cake years ago using Splenda (never again) and couldn't for the life of me find an entry that had the actual calorie count for one cup of it... they all said 0 a serving. Sigh.
I was referring to the margarine sprays, although I realize that's a cooking spray, since they are equivalent to their solid counterparts. Cooking spray shouldn't actually add too much since you only get a bit of absorption anyway.
Also, remember that they go by weight not by volume for most labels so water is denser and will come first even if the volume is mostly oils, especially when they use multiple oils. You could easily have something that has mostly oil yet still has water listed first.0 -
Marilyn0924 wrote: »karintalley wrote: »Well, i,buy light because its less calories. Light Ranch is like half the calories. Why wouldn't i if i like the flavour?
I compare labels. What do i get more food for less calories. Nothing wrong with that.
Many times products listed as "low fat"/"fat free" are loaded up with extra sugar, starches and sodium.
Personal preference of course, but I'd rather have less of the full fat.
There's plenty of stuff that is low fat that doesn't have a bunch of added sugar and whatnot. I prefer low fat dairy because I'd rather spend my calories elsewhere. My favorite salad dressing is Newman's Own Light Balsamic...it's not pumped full of a bunch of sugar and whatnot either.
I actually think this is more myth than anything else...most stuff I see that has a bunch of added sugar in it and marketed as "low fat" wasn't high fat to begin with...like cereals and whatnot.0 -
DebLaBounty wrote: »I saw a “gluten free” label on rice. Well, duh.
At least in the case of foods containing non-gluten grains--an argument could be made that the label is trying to assure you that the product was not contaminated with gluten as it may have been processed in a facility that processes products containing gluten.
I was at a restaurant the other day and a woman asked for a gluten free menu--which the restaurant had. She then proceeded to ask the waitress if olives had gluten in them. olives. am I missing something?
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cwolfman13 wrote: »Marilyn0924 wrote: »karintalley wrote: »Well, i,buy light because its less calories. Light Ranch is like half the calories. Why wouldn't i if i like the flavour?
I compare labels. What do i get more food for less calories. Nothing wrong with that.
Many times products listed as "low fat"/"fat free" are loaded up with extra sugar, starches and sodium.
Personal preference of course, but I'd rather have less of the full fat.
There's plenty of stuff that is low fat that doesn't have a bunch of added sugar and whatnot. I prefer low fat dairy because I'd rather spend my calories elsewhere. My favorite salad dressing is Newman's Own Light Balsamic...it's not pumped full of a bunch of sugar and whatnot either.
I actually think this is more myth than anything else...most stuff I see that has a bunch of added sugar in it and marketed as "low fat" wasn't high fat to begin with...like cereals and whatnot.
Just had to buy a second bottle of this to keep at the office.0
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