Fat free, calorie free butter spray--how can this be true?!?!??

[telemetrynurse]

I've used the parkay brand and the "I can't believe it's not butter" brand of butter flavored spray that claims to be calorie free. These spray bottles are found in the dairy section as a butter substitute.

Of course, I am VERY generous with the spray since it is a "free" food---calorie free, fat free, cholesterol free, and trans fat free.

I soak my veggies in this stuff and pour it on my egg beaters. It definitely does give some yummy flavor.

Ok, it seems too good to be true! On the front of the spray bottle the words "44% vegetable oil spread"

Huh??? Can 44% vegetable oil spread REALLY be fat and calorie free?!?!??

the second ingredient listed is soybean oil, followed by buttermilk.

Why didn't I realize this sooner???? Ok, maybe I wanted something too good to be true? This teaches me the simple lesson of REALLY reading labels---not just the sexy, exciting parts about "fat free", "calorie free"

How can they get away with this type of labeling deception?

Does anyone have any similar products that are deceptive?

[SmartButt]

I think they list the serving size as "one spray" on those, don't they? Well, if the calories and fat are below a certain percentage, they can technically say its "fat free" or "calorie free". Now, if you use 2 sprays, that could be what it takes to push it up to NOT being fat free or calorie free. The more you use, the more the scant calories and fat add up to real calories and fat.

I think it's an OK product to use, but maybe don't "soak" the veggies

My BF was shocked that butter is 90 calories per tablespoon. Although he still won't try any non-trans-fat margarines, either. *sigh*

[Meg]

SmartButt's right about the serving size qualifying as 0 calories even though it has calories.

Here's the actual nutritional information:

12.5 sprays (2.5 grams) = 10 calories; 1 fat gram
25 sprays (5.0 grams) = 20 calories; 2 fat grams
27.5 sprays (7.5 grams) = 30 calories; 3 fat grams

24 sprays or 1 teaspoon = 17 calories; 1.9 fat grams
72 sprays or 1 tablespoon = 52 calories; 5.8 fat grams

[MrsJim]

It's an FDA regulation, they can call something "calorie-free" as long as it meets certain requirements:

Subpart D--Specific Requirements for Nutrient Content Claims

Sec. 101.60 Nutrient content claims for the calorie content of foods.

(b) Calorie content claims. (1) The terms ``calorie free,'' ``free of calories,'' ``no calories,'' ``zero calories,'' ``without calories,'' ``trivial source of calories,'' ``negligible source of calories,'' or ``dietarily insignificant source of calories'' may be used on the label or in the labeling of foods, provided that:

(i) The food contains less than 5 calories per reference amount customarily consumed and per labeled serving.

(ii) As required in Sec. 101.13(e)(2), if the food meets this condition without the benefit of special processing, alteration, formulation, or reformulation to lower the caloric content, it is labeled to disclose that calories are not usually present in the food (e.g., ``cider vinegar, a calorie free food'').

so there ya go, FWIW.

[LLV]

I use that stuff all the time. I also like the Smart Beat squeezable spread.

And the girls are right, it's 0 calories and 0 fat per a 5-spray serving.

Even still, it's better than using butter or margarine.

[Charles78]

You know - I made a post about this on another forum called when 4 = 0 I use I can't believe it's not butter also. I think it is a great product and I use it as directed. I put 5 squirts on toast. What bothers me about the FDA regulations is that for products like that - products that are obviously marketed to people who are wanting to watch their nutritional content - the labeling law is worse than useless... it is misleading. Why can't they just put that 5 squirts has 4 calories? Then no one would make the mistake of thinking oh it is 0, I can put 20 on there. I suspect that some food lobby wanted that rule put in place to help sales.....

[LLV]

Originally Posted by Charles78

You know - I made a post about this on another forum called when 4 = 0 I use I can't believe it's not butter also. I think it is a great product and I use it as directed. I put 5 squirts on toast. What bothers me about the FDA regulations is that for products like that - products that are obviously marketed to people who are wanting to watch their nutritional content - the labeling law is worse than useless... it is misleading. Why can't they just put that 5 squirts has 4 calories? Then no one would make the mistake of thinking oh it is 0, I can put 20 on there. I suspect that some food lobby wanted that rule put in place to help sales.....

Well, see, I'm one of those that thinks 5 squirts has no calories. Because on the bottle, the nutrition information given is for 1.25 spray as cooking spray or 5 sprays for topping - 0 calories.

Oh well, I can't hurt my brain thinking about it, lol.