Claims on Web Site Unsupported

Details

Created on 01, February, 2013

The manufacturer’s web site and other sites that sell their snack bar advertise it as low in sodium, high in protein and low in sugar, in addition to making other claims. 

Beware when a product makes nutrition and health claims but does not show Nutrition Facts for the product online or on other marketing materials. For one thing, it is illegal to do so. Additionally, this particular product doesn’t meet the criteria for “low sodium” or “high in protein,” and “low in sugar” is not a permitted claim for any food (and has no definition). The web site also claims the bars contain herbs that fight bacteria and reduce blood sugar. Even if the bars contained more than just very small amounts of the herbs, these are considered drug claims (i.e., prevent, mitigate or cure disease) and are not allowed for food products. Also, a claim that the herbs are a good source of vitamin K is an implied claim that the bars must therefore be a good source of this vitamin... but there is no vitamin K content info for the bars to substantiate the claim (there would need to be at least 8 micrograms per serving).