Calories and sugar content in beverages.

[firefox_fan]

I noticed that many bottled drinks these days APPEAR to have lower calories and sugar content. For instance, on the main content table, it says 15g of Sugars. However, for some reason, many bottled drinks contain 2.5 servings! So, in the end a small bottle still contains over 30 g of sugars. It's a scam.

[Make7]

1. Obviously they are trying to fool you...

... by clearly printing this information on the label.

- Make7

[firefox_fan]

3. No, LEGALLY they have to print the information.

The information is not presented clearly at all. Clear information would be the total content in the bottle, since that is the effective serving size. Who drinks 33% of a bottle and leaves the rest?
Instead of having the content per serving in big letters (and the number of servings in small letters on the side), they should write the total content in big letters.

[MissB]

5. I think that most people will look at a bottle of soda

and know that it is more than one serving.

The stuff isn't exactly good for you anyway. A serving of that stuff should be small.

[firefox_fan]

7. I agree, it's bad for you... And it's bad bottles have more than one serving...

Who drinks only half a bottle and carries the other half around?...

[Make7]

9. What about a gallon of milk?

Should they print the total content in the bottle? Or a half-gallon bottle of orange juice? Print the total number of calories and total amount of sugar?

As far as I know 8 ounces is the standard serving size for labeling of beverages in the US. This makes it easier to compare nutrition information of equal amounts of different beverages. Although it does require you to do some math to get the exact numbers for the actual amount you consume in one serving. Although other people may choose to consume a different amount per serving, and therefore have to do their own math.

How difficult is it to multiply something by 2.5?

- Make7

[firefox_fan]

19. You have a point. It should have BOTH.

Clearly indicated. It's not difficult for me to do the math. Or for You. But remember that many people have trouble figuring out a 20% tip amount at the restaurant. No child left behind!

[jilln]

4. Right.

Everyone should assume that an individual container of something that cannot be reclosed, such as a can of cola, is more than one serving.

I read labels far more than anyone I know and am still surprised by them.

[Make7]

10. What is the standard serving size of a beverage? ( n/t )

[firefox_fan]

14. 8 oz, I think....

[Make7]

17. Can you tell if a bottle has significantly more than 8 oz in it?

Without looking at the label?

[firefox_fan]

20. No idea... I think that volume estimation can be quite off

depending on the shape of the bottle...

[tridim]

2. Everything becomes a scam when a government allows capitalism to run wild.

It seems to be getting worse every day.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. You mean 37.5 grams?

The servings/container is listed right there next to the sugar. It's hardly a scam when they explain it to you right there.

[Beaverhausen]

8. I read all labels now- they can be deceiving

and I agree - not everyone realizes that the numbers are "per serving" and a package can contain more than one serving.

I just lost 38 lbs on Weight Watchers - you can bet I'm reading every part of every label. It's very eye-opening!

[devilgrrl]

11. I don't drink any of that crap anymore...

just lemon squeezed into water. No sugar, no fat, no calories.

[glowing]

13. that looks so refreshing.. see advertising can work to trick you.

no onder coke does so well.

[glowing]

12. And if anyone ever has fresh squeezed oj or some other juice..

it is naturally sweet. I question why so much sugar has to be added to these juices... what is happening during the processing that the natural flavor is lost and substituted with sugar?

[firefox_fan]

16. True.... I don't get it either...

Drinks are just too sweet. I suspect the real motive is addiction and mood altering (not unrelated). Sugar and coffeine highs make one feel "good" temporarily and are addictive (you feel bad afterwards or if you don't have them). Most drinks would probably be much better tasting with 25% or less of the sugar in them.

[LSK]

15. its hard to avoid HFCS in most drinks

Water tends to be safe thou.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

18. A Serving Has ALWAYS Been 8 Oz's. A 20 Oz Bottle Has ALWAYS Been 2.5 Servings.

There's no conspiracy here.

[firefox_fan]

21. Perhaps there are more 20 oz bottles than in the past.

I just started noticing the 2.5 servings...

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

22. With All Due Respect, Maybe Blaming The Company For Your Lack Of Paying Attention To Detail, Isn't

exactly the appropriate action here.

I find nothing wrong with the bottle and no reason whatsoever for your objection. It almost makes no sense.

But the premise that they are somehow trying to hide the true calories of their beverages is quite silly on its face, when it comes down to it.

[firefox_fan]

27. On the contrary. I pay attention to detail, since I noticed...

[Beaverhausen]

24. a can of soda is 12 ounces - 1 serving. A bottle of "Naked Juice" is 15 ozs- 2 servings

It isn't standardized, and they package things so you think you are getting one serving when you are really getting two. Who drinks half a bottle of juice? or even half a 20 oz. bottle of soda?

This is one reason there is an increase in obesity here.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

25. The Reason For The Increase In Obesity Is Moreso Due To Laziness And

lack of personal responsibility. It is not because the labels say 2.5 servings.

I'm sorry, but if someone doesn't know how to read a calorie label then that's their own damn fault. Seriously. I'm amazed at the things that people will so readily blame on others.

[Yavin4]

29. Wrong. The Obesity Problem Is Due To The Cheapness and Abundance of Bad Food

You can eat crap at McDonald's for a dollar, and there's a McDonald's every where you look. However, if you want to eat healthy, you pay more and you have to hunt down the good food.

So, if you're poor and pressed for time, guess where you'll eat.

[firefox_fan]

32. I even saw this credit card that gives you 3% back on Fast Food purchases.

But only 1% for regular foods. WTF is that?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

35. I Consider That To Be A Monumental Cop Out.

It's one more way to deflect away from personal responsibility.

[firefox_fan]

30. Well, most people out of high schools cannot read basic graphs...

But they are still human beings who need to stay healthy and function...

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

36. Sorry, I Completely Disagree With The Premise.

I don't believe in the need to have to spoon feed everything to society. The bottle is labeled in a perfectly appropriate manner.

[firefox_fan]

40. That's OK, we understand that you can read the labels and do math!

[firefox_fan]

28. Well said. And right on target.

Plus discounts for the jumbo size of evertything. And 3 for one schemes.

[Beaverhausen]

31. Who pulls a 20 oz. bottle of soda from the refrig at 7-11 and only drinks half of it?

What about those Big Gulps? Are they one serving?

[firefox_fan]

33. Proponents of abstinence do. Or they says so. Ahahahah!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

38. People who pour soda into cups, on ice.

I'd think people who drink Big Gulps probably aren't worried about calories anyway.

[firefox_fan]

41. What's Big Gulps?

A giant soda bottle?

[Beaverhausen]

42. They are a 32 oz cups to get sodas from the fountain at 7-11

I think it's 32- it might be more now.

[firefox_fan]

43. Jesus... That's a diabetes recipe...

[firefox_fan]

34. I did not know it was not standardized...

Are you sure?

[Beaverhausen]

37. I just looked in the refrig here at work. Soda cans are 12 Ozs...

and it says one serving. The naked juice was 15.2 oz and said "about 2 servings."

the bottle of water here that I am drinking is 16.9 oz and is 2 servings.

[firefox_fan]

39. Wow... I'm sure they consulted their ad folks...

And that the layout of the label is designed to obfuscate (within the constraints imposed by the law).

[Catherine Vincent]

23. I prefer bottles and cans to actually be 1 serving instead of 2.5.

That way the price could go back down to 50 cents.

[firefox_fan]

26. That's right! Instead, soon they'll make one serving bottles

and still charge the same amount! Let's face it, once you open the bottle, you drink it all. A bottle should be one serving. Nobody carries around a half empty bottle.