Atkins Nutritionals has said it is concerned about the recent boom in low-carbohydrate food products and restaurant menu options.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Dr. Stuart Trager, medical director of Atkins Nutritionals, said the company thinks it is “terrific” that consumers are embracing controlled-carbohydrate diets, but warned that people need to change their lifestyle rather than simply eating ready-made low-carb products.
“If you’re just lowering your carbs with many of the new food products that are now hitting the market without correctly following a healthy low-carb lifestyle, you could easily get in trouble,” Trager said.
Atkins Nutritionals said estimates suggest that over 1,000 low-carbohydrate products were launched in 2003 and hundreds more will be launched this year with offerings coming from nearly every major food manufacturer.
“The meaning of the words ‘low-carb’ on a food label is highly inconsistent,” said Trager. “In fact, in many cases the words are meaningless from a scientific standpoint. The FDA has not yet defined low carb for the consumer, so just about any food and beverage producer can use the term without qualification.”
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataHe said a product may be labelled low-carb because it has a lower carb content than a traditional product, but may still contain too many carbs for Atkins dieters. Trager also warned that some low-carb products can still be unhealthy due to the inclusion of harmful additives and trans fats in their ingredients.
