November 6th, 2007
Top-selling low-carb products
Product aimed at people who count carbs are selling like hotcakes–or at least like CarbSense Buttermilk Pancakes. According to the Nutrition Business Journal, low-carb products–from flavored pork rinds to pasta, cookies to margarita mixes–were a $1.4 billion market in 2003, a figure that will only continue to grow. “The number of [low-carb] products that came out in 2003 was probably in the neighborhood of 1,000. Now every day we see another 25 or so,” says Alan Beyda, CEO of J.A.M.B. Low Carb Distributors in Pompano Beach, Fla.
Consumers don’t seem to be put off by these products’ cost–or their calorie counts. Example: A 2-ounce serving of regular Barilla Spaghetti (200 calories and 1 gram of fat) costs 19 cents, while the same amount of Atkins Quick Quisine Spaghetti (210 calories and 3 grams of fat) will set you back $1. In other words, you pay 5.3 times as much for spaghetti that has 29 fewer grams of carbohydrates but delivers an extra 10 calories and 2 more grams of fat.
In the end, it’s the calories you consume–not the carbohydrates–that affect weight loss or gain. Manufacturers are using additives such as sugar alcohols and glycerin instead of sugar and starch to reduce the total carbohydrate count and are just listing “net carbs.” But unless a low-carb product also contains fewer calories, it’s not going to help you lose weight. So, as with any food, check labels and compare products, especially if you’re a fan of any of the foods on the following page, all of which were top sellers at low-carb and health-food retailers across the country at press time.