Those venerable nutrition watchdogs, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, are lobbying the FDA to force companies to get real about what’s really a single serving size.
It cites some examples in its press release:
24-ounce Coca-Cola. Although Coke is relabeling 16- and 20-ounce bottles of soda, it’s new 24-ounce bottle is clearly intended for one person to drink. (“It’s BIG! For those who thirst for more,†reads the bottle.) The label claims the bottle provides three 100-calorie servings, but many consumers would drink all 300 calories in one sitting. Safeway Chicken Caesar Salad. Clearly meant for one, this salad comes with one fork. But because the label claims the container has three and a half servings, the nutrition information makes the salad look far healthier than it is. Many label readers might think this salad has 240 calories and 21 grams of fat, when in fact it has 840 calories and 73 grams of fat. Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup. This college staple looks small, and the nutrition numbers on the label are for just half the package. The whole package has 400 calories as opposed to 200—and a whopping 1,420 mg of sodium as opposed to 710. 3.5-ounce Chex Mix. This General Mills snack would be a prime candidate for a dual-column Nutrition Facts panel, according to CSPI. The bag is small enough to fit in a vending machine, yet contains 3.5 servings. The bag has 455 calories, not the 130 calories the label lists for a “serving.â€