sugar alcohols?

[oct2189]

I almost bought a 0 calorie Glaceau water today, but when I read the nutrition label, it read
calories 0
total carbohydrate 4g
sugar alcohols 3g
sugars less than 1g

Can anyone explain this to me? I know 1g of carbohydrate is calories, so.....?

Thanks!

[wallycat]

The govt. allows companies to "average" their method of disclosing calories...which is why some items that are "calorie free" pack on the pounds, because TOTAL calories still exist.
So, if a product has equal to or less than .5 grams of fat or a small amount of sugar per serving, they are allowed to say no calories or no sugar.
Of course, there is no mandate on WHAT SIZE SERVING anything needs to be.
If someone added up all the real carbs, calories, fat, etc....an ate more than the "serving size," there would, in fact, be calories.

Alcohol sugars (xylitol, manitol, soribitol, etc.) do not raise glucose (for the most part) so even though they are carbs, they are not counted in the actual count.

Is this clear as mud?
Google things like "nutrition labels and no calorie loophole" and you should find quite a bit of stuff.