Net Carbohydrates Analysis Package

Southern Testing Now Offering "Net Carbs" Food Analysis Package

In response to requests from food manufacturers, Southern Testing has begun offering a "Net Carbs" analysis data package for foods. At a cost of $450 per sample, the "Net Carbs" package offered by Southern Testing is based on the individual serving size, or per 100 grams (at the option of the manufacturer), and consists of the following:

==============================================

Southern Testing's "Net Carbs" Analysis Package ($450 per sample) includes:

Total Fat

Protein

Ash

Moisture

Fiber (Soluble/Insoluble breakdown)

Up to two sugar alcohols

Net Carbohydrates (Net Carbs) calculation

Calories from fat calculation.

===============================================

The "Net Carbs" calculation (with all components in grams) is performed as follows:

Net Carbs (g) = Sample Weight - Total Fat - Protein - Ash - Moisture - Insoluble Fiber - Sugar Alcohols

Additional commentary about "Net Carbs".

With the greatly increased popularity of the "Atkins Diet", many food manufacturers are reformulating their food products to contain lower levels of carbohydrates, and are using various phrases on their packages to convey this change to the consumer. Although the term "Net Carb" has not been defined by the FDA, calculation of the carbohydrates that contribute to the production of calories is relatively straightforward, as shown above.

The following is a direct quotation from an article titled "What do "net carb," "low carb," and "impact carb" really mean on food labels? (Question of the Month)" in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Jan, 2004, by W. Marcason:

..."The relatively new phrases "net carb," "low carb," and "impact carb" are not defined by the FDA; they were created by companies to give their products more shelf appeal, as consumers are not likely to have the time or interest in the calculations of crude protein, total fat, moisture, and ash. To calculate the "net carb," companies subtract the grams of fiber and sugar alcohols from the total carbohydrates. The rationale behind this is that the body does not digest fiber so it shouldn't be counted as part of the total carbohydrates. For the sugar alcohols, manufacturers claim that while sugar alcohols also are technically carbohydrates and a source of calories, they have a negligible effect on blood sugar and shouldn't be counted as part of the total carbohydrates. An American Dietetic Association publication recommends persons with diabetes managing their blood sugars using the carbohydrate counting method to "count half of the grams of sugar alcohol as carbohydrates since half of the sugar alcohol on average is digested" (3). "Fiber is not digested, however, if the serving of food has more then 5 grams of fiber one should subtract the grams of fiber from the total carbohydrate grams (3)."...

Reference cited in quoted section:

3. Powers M. American Dietetic Association Guide to Eating Right When You Have Diabetes. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2003:130,139

To request additional information, or for a no-obligation quotation, please call or e-mail either Walter Hogg, Manager, Business Development and Client Services, at 252-265-5053, or Sheila Hinnant, Section Head, Food Chemistry, Food Chemistry, 252-265-5076.