Food Diet and Light

nutritional information on labels and packaging
The technical regulation concerning the supplementary nutrition information was established by Decree 27/98 of the Ministry of Health. The supplementary nutrition information is any representation that states or suggests that a food has one or more particular nutritional properties as the energy value and the protein content , fats, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
The orientation can not be formulated in a way that leads to error or user mistake. Information such as "sugar Exempt", "No sodium" or "reduced content of fat" must be clearly arranged.
Must appear on the label of diet foods:
alert for diabetics when they contain glucose, fructose or sucrose
when adding aspartame: "contains phenylalanine"
in all: "Consume preferably under guidance nutritionist or doctor"
Statements on labels and food packaging on:
CALORIES
Or low light
Maximum of 40 kcal / 100g or 20kcal / 100ml.
Reduced
At least 25% fewer calories than the reference food and difference greater than 40kcal / 100g or 20kcal / 100ml. SUGAR
Or low light
Maximum of 5g of sugar per 100g or 100ml and no more than 40kcal / 100g or 20kcal / 100ml.
No added sugar
When sugars are not added during the production or packaging. If the food is not low or reduced in calories, use the phrase: "This is not a food with reduced energy."
TOTAL FAT
Or low light
Maximum of 3g of fat per 100g or 1.5g of fat 100ml.
Reduced
At least 25% less fat than the reference food. The difference must be greater than 3g fat in 100g or 100ml of 1.5g.
SATURATED FAT
Or low light
Maximum of 1.5g of saturated fat per 100g or 0.75g in 100ml. The energy provided by fat should be no more than 10% of energy.
Reduced
At least 25% less cholesterol than the reference food. The difference must be greater than 1.5g / 100g or 0.75g / 100ml.
CHOLESTEROL
Or low light
Maximum 20mg cholesterol or cholesterol 10mg 100g in 100ml and a maximum of 1.5g saturated fat in 100 or 0.75 in 100 ml. The energy provided by saturated fat should be at most 10% of the energy value.
Reduced
At least 25% less cholesterol than the reference food. The difference must be greater than 20mg cholesterol / 100g or 10mg cholesterol in 100ml.
Food diet and light: myths and truths
Despite the increase in sales, the population is unaware of the characteristics of light food and diet.
A survey released by the Brazilian Association of Dietetic Food Industries, Special and Supplements Fins (Abiadsa) and the Brazilian Institute of Education for Food Consumption and Congeners (IBCA) shows that these aprodutos are consumed in about 35% of households in the parents. In ten years, business with diet and light foods grew 800% in the country. Nevertheless, Abiadsa reveals that there is a lack of knowledge about the products. Only 8% of respondents agreed the concept of diet and nobody light.
It is the mistaken idea that diet products are only those without sugar, and light ones that have fewer calories. And there are many doubts about the benefits of each. Diabetes, hypertension, people with high cholesterol or overweight can consume the same food or diet drink or light? Not always, and so it is important to talk to a doctor or a nutritionist about the ideal diet for each purpose.
Know the difference between light and diet
food diet
The Ministry of Health Decree 29/98 establishes the technical regulations for setting of identity and quality of food for special purposes.
The term diet can be used:
1.Under food diets with nutrient restriction (carbohydrate, fat, protein, sodium, and are generally suitable for specific groups, such as diabetics, coeliacs or hypertensive);
2. We food diets with controlled intake of calories (maintenance, loss or gain control or sugars).
Food for controlled diets may not have the addition of nutrient, but can contain it naturally. For example, in a fruit jam diet, who makes a diet with a controlled intake of sugar, it is allowed to exist in natural food sugar, fructose.
The food restricted in carbohydrates (such as bread or chocolate diet) or fat (skim yoghurt, for example) can contain, at most, the addition of 0.5 g of nutrient per 100g of product. Already the proteins in restricted foods should be totally exempt. Thus, it can be defined as a diet food product free or essentially free of a specific nutrient.
light food
The definition of light should be used in food products with minimum reduction of 25% in a particular nutrient or calories when compared with conventional food.
For the occurrence of calorie reduction it is necessary that there is a decrease in energy nutrient content (carbohydrate, fat or protein). Thus, the reduction of a non-nutrient energy (e.g., light in sodium salt) does not affect the amount of food calories.
Drinks
According to Normative Instruction 29/99 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, diet soda (diet) is the one with less sugar content than 0.5g / 100ml, but this limit can be increased in the diet soda when from the adding fruit juice. Already low calorie drink (light) is the one whose sugar content is replaced by natural or artificial sweetener whose calorie no more than 20kcal / 100ml.
Tips for the consumption of modified foods
To avoid confusion, it is important to read the labels on light and diet products and compare them with conventional food, to see if they meet the needs and goals of those who will consume them.
The diet product that does not contain sugar or fat may have large amount of carbohydrate in composition. The diet bread, for example, contain flour, rich in carbohydrates.
Not all food diet have significantly reduced amount of calories. This will depend on the nutrient that has been removed and the replaced. For example, the chocolate diet can be consumed by those who have an intolerance or restriction sugar such as diabetics, but weight loss is not indicated, it may be fat amount equal to or greater than conventional.
In the composition of a balanced diet for people who want to lose weight, the diet and light foods can be used to replace the same foods in the conventional version. Do not increase the amount consumed in a food because it is light.
The most important weight loss with health is to have balanced diet, combining different nutrients and without excesses.
Some products, such as mayonnaise and yellow cheese, even with a reduced amount of fat, remain very fatty. In the case of cheese, it is better to change yellow to white to choose a light version.
The light salting salt less and many people end up using it in greater quantities than conventional. Yet prefer the light version may be advantageous because potassium used to replace part of the sodium can act as a reducing blood pressure.
Not all light food and diet are recommended for heart. Some have too much saturated fat, salt and trans fat.