I don't really have a specific question but I thought maybe we could talk about nutrition labels and their accuracy. I saw two packages of similar rice mix in the grocery store the other day and their calories varied so much it got me thinking. They were both types of spicy jasmine rice. Their ingredients were the same and their portion size was the same at 1 cup prepared. One brand listed the calories at 240 and the other was 390! I started wondering if we can really trust the labels on our food. I wonder how they are tested and just how accurate they are.
I know labels can be deceiving sometimes. I gave an example on another thread how products can be listed as "calorie free" if they have less than 5 calories per serving. I used the example of the Becel Butter spray they talked about on the Tyra show. Each serving size is one fast spray and it is listed as calorie free. The product actually has four calories per spray and once you start thoroughly coating your low calorie popcorn, you may have added 40 or more calories from a "calorie free" product.
What are your thoughts about nutrition labels on food products as well as calorie counts on restaurant food? Can we trust that these items are prepared the same was every time and we are actually getting what they say we are? Should we always round up calories on our products? Do you think more information should be provided than what is currently required, like a complete nutritional analysis on every item?
I am not trying to be obsessive about calorie counting, I am just wondering how everyone feels about the information we are given about what we are eating. Can we trust it?