There are no standards for *low carb*, *reduced carbs* *lower in carbs* as
of yet so companies can do as they please. I am sure it will not be long
before the FDA decides it needs a standard for the carb terms, just as they
have had to set them for *organic*, *low fat* etc over the years.

Teeb

The problem too is that "low carb" isn't specific enough.  There are a lot
of different diet plans out there, lots of different foods, so what's low
carb to one person may not be to another.  For example, a family member had
to keep carbs to < 50 per meal during late pregnancy due to gestational
diabetes.  So maybe a slice or 2 of that ~20 carb/slice "low carb" Papa
Murphy's pizza is no big deal on that plan, but not for Atkins.

I found this article which is pretty interesting:  I suspect there's no
regulation yet (IE it would be legal to say "low carb") -- maybe it will be
coming soon...

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/special/foodlabel/lite.html

I'll say though, after working closely with marketers, I don't trust a
single word on the box.  Looking at the nutritional info, and then the
ingredients, is the best bet!

Brian

Pure urban legend aimed at the gullible people who believe anything they
read.  False.

I don't think it's illegal but the FDA is cracking down on companies who are
mislabeling foods. For example, the manufacturers of "low carb" bars used to
omit sugar alcohols and glycerin on the nutrition lables altogether. They
must now be included in the total carb count. They can claim elsewhere on
the label that the net carbs are less but the carbs must be included on the
nutrition label.

There is growing pressure for the FDA to define what low carb means but for
now it's buyer beware. What manufacturers claim is low carb may very well
not be.