Week 4 Assignment

Fat Free Or Not?

Pete Jenkins

Professor Hammoud

ACO1232A

August 23, 2012

Being an athletic person I am always looking at food labels. Purchasing fat free food or low fat content items is what my family tries to do. In this paper we are going to figure out if the food were as consumers are buying is really fat free or are the labels misleading. I gathered three of my favorite things to eat fat free cottage cheese, yougart, and a lean cuisine macaroni and cheese. Using the proper formula we are going to mathematically explain the actual fat and protein content and really see if the labels are telling the truth.

Fat Free Cottage Cheese

Calories = 250 Fat = 6g using the formula it looks like this

6 x 9 = 54 54/250 (calories) = .216

.216 x 100 = 21.6

Fat is actually 21.6

Protein

9g x 4 = 36

36/250 = .144

.144 x 100 = 14.4

Protein = 14.4

YOUGART

Calories 90, Fat 3g, Protein 3g

Fat = 3 x 9 = 27

27/90 = .3

.3 x 100 = 30

Fat = 30

Protein

3 x 4 = 12

12/90 = .133

.133 x 100 = 13.3

Protein = 13.3

Lean Cuisine Mac and Cheese

Calories 280, fat 13g, protein 24g

Fat

13 x 9 = 117

117/280 = .417

.417 x 100 = 41.7

Protein

24 x 4 = 96

96/280 = .342

.342 x 100 = 34.28

Protein is 34.28

After reviewing the material and properly working the formulas you can easily determine that the labels are incorrect. Every one of the three products I choose have a higher fat content then the label leads you to believe. With that they also all have higher protein totals as well. I for sure will be using this formula when deciding what to buy at the store. It may take me a bit longer to decide but in the long run it will absolutely be worth it.