Abstract
The accuracy of stated energy contents of reduced-energy restaurant foods and frozen
meals purchased from supermarkets was evaluated. Measured energy values of 29 quick-serve
and sit-down restaurant foods averaged 18% more than stated values, and measured energy
values of 10 frozen meals purchased from supermarkets averaged 8% more than originally
stated. These differences substantially exceeded laboratory measurement error but
did not achieve statistical significance due to considerable variability in the degree
of underreporting. Some individual restaurant items contained up to 200% of stated
values and, in addition, free side dishes increased provided energy to an average
of 245% of stated values for the entrees they accompanied. These findings suggest
that stated energy contents of reduced-energy meals obtained from restaurants and
supermarkets are not consistently accurate, and in this study averaged more than measured
values, especially when free side dishes were taken into account. If widespread, this
phenomenon could hamper efforts to self-monitor energy intake to control weight, and
could also reduce the potential benefit of recent policy initiatives to disseminate
information on food energy content at the point of purchase.
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Biography
L. E. Urban is a doctoral degree student, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA.
Biography
E. Saltzman is chair, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA.
Biography
L. M. Ausman is Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Professor in International Nutrition, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA.
Biography
G. E. Dallal is director, Biostatistics Unit, Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA.
Biography
L. M. Robinson is a research dietitian, Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA.
Biography
S. B. Roberts is director, Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA.
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 24,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
