Light products broke into the market in the 80s. At that time what was sought was to reduce these. In the 2000 a reducer also began sugar or salt. The reasons, the child, obvious: the usual consumption of foods rich in saturated and trans fats, sugars and/or salt has been associated with a mayor of a mayor risk of obesity and other noncommunicable cooling such as type 2 diabetes diabetes or cancer.
More recently, the alimimos 0%have arrived. Do you know what light meaning in food? Is it the same as ‘without sugar’? Better son zero than light? Son habitual doubts that arise to see the large amount of recovery in calories or lightened in these, salt and sugars that are used from the linear. We analyze the differences.
What are Light products?
The definition of Light food, as Inés Farré, dietitian-nutritionist and food labeling technician in Aldi Spain, is well remembered, is given by the Regulation 1924/2006 Relating to the nutritional and healthy properties of food. «Light products are defined as Foods to which the content of one or more nutrients has been reduced (Fats, sugar, salt), at least 30 % Of the caloric value compared to a similar reference product. «
Light food examples are found in the shelves of the supermarket daily: there are light potatoes, Kétchup Light, Light cookies …
What are food 0%?
Light products should not be confused cons 0%products, without sugar, food 0 calories (Also called food zero by Anglo -Saxon influence). «These are those foods and beverages that are marketed as versions without energy contribution, without fat, without saturated fats, sin Natural sugars is presented or shook, Sen sodium/ natural salt presents or added,» says Farré.
In order for a manufacturer to inform those mentions in the container, it must comply with the framework for Regulation 1924/2006. «Food labels can declare mentions such as’ without sugars’ or» 0 % sugars’ or simils to inform the consumer that it is -wood without energy supply, without fat, saturated saturated, sin sugars, sin sugars, sin sodidos, sin or -ohydides, sen or -ohydis without salt, without sodium or without salt added ”.
Foreign to seem, the concept 0% There is not always implies the complete absence of nutrient. «0% Eltermine indicates that a product contains very low or void amounts of the nutrient in question. For example, the ‘sin sugar’ or ‘ -free’ decline without fat can be used when a product does not contain more than 0.5 grams of sugar or fat per 100 grams or 100 millilitrite ”.
Are Light and 0%products healthy?
In general, light products, as well as all 0% or ‘without’ food Altamando prosecuted and poor nutritional quality. This makes these light products healthier than the originated products, although unhealthy if containers compared groups of feeds.
Because? The answer is simple: they take high fat products as a reference, with many salt, many added sugars and, in general, many calories. In other words, foods of low nutritional quality whose consumption must sereasal. What manufacturers do to convert them into 0% is ‘reworking the recipe’, redoubt one or more of those crystical nutrients. When we take some bag potatoes, 35% of each bite are fat (data Bedca). The version light reduces fats to 22.2%.
Is it now a salable snack? In general terms, yes, but that does not turn Light potatoes into a color salary snack could be, for example, a picoteo of hummus, one fruit or a handful of these fruits. In fact, as in this case, the food has so much salt, so much fat or so much sugar that, although 30%are reduced, it continues to contribute a high content of those nutrients criticism. The habitual consumption of Light food has been associated with a mayor of a single mayor of obesity and exesive calorie consumption, since they transfer the message to consume consultant with mayor frequently.
And the food or light or zero with sweeteners?
A habitual way of reducing calories and legally accessing the Light denominacity is to replace sugars added by sweeteners, such as Maltitol or Aspartamo. It is frequent in industrial pastries or chucheías.
Obvavamador will always be better options, but however grain the sugar is reduced, many are of healthy products to consume daily. In addition, it is important to highlight that the consumer tends to see you as options that can consume with regular mayor, which contributes final to the consumption of superfluous foods that should not be part of the daily diet. This must be added that, although they are safe additives, the effects that sweeteners can occasionally can, for example, in the microbiota.
Something similar to the happens with the sandwiches with less fat, fried fruits with less salt or 0%soft drinks.
Why are there no fresh light foods?
The light of the denomination or 0% is always applied to processed or unprocessed foods. Fresh products reach the consumer as they occur there is no broccoli light, or light chicken thighs, or light bells, nor light banana. Even having a high fat content, as with Oliva Contest or nuts, these are healthy foods whose consumption must simply be limited to the recommended ration.
In the case of skim and half -nattered milk, we are facing two minimal products processed to which it is only removed withdraws all or part of the natural fat present in Iseal.
The Aldi Council
Food and 0% are still ultra -processed that should be of occasion consumption. Base your food on fresh products and forget about the light, fats and added sugars.
Inés Farré. Dietitian-Nutritionist and Food Technologist. He has experience in the retail sector as its own brand technician (Condis Supermercats) and Realmenta as food labeling technician in Aldi Spain. Inés works with great passion for the world of food and is committed to quality and innovation in the sector.
