Portion, schmortion

The FDA might get realistic about portion size

By Culinate staff

February 8, 2010

Ever gotten disgruntled over the fact that a “serving size” — of, say, tortilla chips or Oreos — listed on a package is much smaller than you’d like it to be?

So is the FDA, which wants manufacturers to get realistic about portion-size labeling. Because, after all, who really eats just six tortilla chips or two small cookies and then calls it quits?

As the New York Times points out,

Still, the solution is not as simple as merely bumping up the standard portions for some foods. Officials worry that could send the wrong message. If the serving size for cookies rose to two ounces from one ounce, for instance, some consumers might think the government was telling them it was fine to eat more.