US retail food product weights are outstripping the amount declared on labels by as much as 72 per cent, according to a study published by the American Dietetic Association.
Researchers from the US Agricultural Research Service (ARS) found that out of 99 food items checked, just 37 had contents weighing what was declared on their labels, 15 were underweight and 47 products were oversized.
The margins were often significant. The report cited excess product weights of 8.6 per cent for syruped peaches and 72 per cent for toasted cereal.
Far from being a welcome giveaway to consumers, the ARS has warned the discrepancies could be very bad news for dieters and even dangerous for diabetics who need to keep a close watch on their sugar intake.
As for underweight goods, the ARS warned they 'could break federal guidelines' to protect consumers from being short-changed.
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