The investigation by consumer watchdog CHOICE into misleading health claims has revealed ‘fat-free’ and ‘reduced fat’ ready-to-eat-desserts are not always a healthy option.
CHOICE announced last month it would be ‘naming and shaming misleading health claims and first tested was desserts, with a large percentage of the 31 varieties tested found to have high sugar and sodium levels.
“Low-fat desserts can be just as high in kilojoules as the full fat variety. The fat may be removed but to make up for the loss of taste, extra sugars are added and this adds to the overall kilojoule count,” CHOICE spokesperson, Ingrid Just said.
Under Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) rules, food labelled as ‘low-fat’ cannot contain more than 3% fat while foods labeled as ‘fat free’ must not contain more than 0.15% fat.
To carry a ‘reduced fat’ claim FSANZ requires the product to contain at least 25% less fat than a product it is compared to; the label must also detail what that product is.
“This means one brand’s reduced fat product could still have more fat than another brand’s regular product,” Just explained.
CHOICE’s review of the nutritional content of low fat desserts found the healthier options to include Dairy Farmers Dairy Selection Vanilla Lite Pouring custard 99% fat free, Nestle Diet 99% fat free Crème Caramel and Pauls Custard Low Fat Vanilla 99% fat free.
Nutritionally, other low-fat desserts reviewed by CHOICE did not rate as well.
“If you are watching your weight, avoid the ‘reduced fat’ or ‘low fat’ fruit pies such as Nanna’s Lite Apple Pie varieties.
“Whilst some of the sugar comes from fruit, the pastry casing makes them higher in kilojoules,” Just said.
“Weight Watchers Belgian Éclairs have fewer kilojoules but contain high levels of saturated fat and sugar.
“Whilst they don’t carry nutrition claims, it’s easy to think they are healthy given they are part of the Weight Watchers brand.”
“The Wicked Sister 97% fat free Rice Pudding desserts have lower saturated fat levels but the Luscious Vanilla with Blueberry and Caramel Dulce de Leche score highly on sugar.”
CHOICE is calling governments to stamp out the selective use of nutrition claims by introducing a nutrient profiling system, which would ensure all products carrying nutrition claims such as ‘low fat’ comply with a specified level of overall healthiness.
“Federal, state and territory governments around Australia have committed to responding to the Panel’s recommendations by December.
“They have an opportunity right now to make it easier for consumers to make healthier choices,” Just said.
CHOICE is calling for front-of-pack traffic light labeling to warn consumers about fat, sodium and sugar content, but the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) argues the plan is too simplistic to work and instead wants a focus on Daily Intake Guides.