Beverage Labels

I don’t think it’s fair that liquids contain calories.  I mean, liquids of a certain thinness, anyway.  Obviously milkshakes and smoothies have calories, but it is fully realieazed when you consume them.  They seem substantial and everything.  But Gatorade, coffee, juice, milk, and alcohol–not fair.  If they have the science to take every last calorie out of syrupy, fizzy soda–they should be able to do it for other beverages too.

Liquid calories are especially problematic, because they add up just as fast (if not faster) then calories in other food, but do absolutely nothing to fill you.  They are empty.  And that’s the part that’s really not awesome.

And finding out what the caloric damage is, is nearly impossible.  What are the laws about nutrition facts–especially calories on beverages?  Why doesn’t alcohol seem to include this information on the bottle, the package, or sometimes even the website???  Even more frustrating to an already unfair dilemma.

According to Marion Nestle, my go-to nutritional adviser calories aren’t listed because:  “For years, consumer groups have pushed for calorie and nutrition labeling on alcoholic beverages, but the Treasury Department (not the FDA) regulates such things and responds to the wishes of the industry.” Lame.  I wonder how this came about in the first place.  Something to do with prohibition?  I should research it–but I’m much too tired to do it before work this morning.  I’ll let you know the facts when I look into this later.

And it is also scary that the FDA isn’t looking at alcohol.  I find it difficult to believe the Treasury Department cares about the health and safety of products. . .