ABSTRACT
Dietary recommendations in many Western societies promote the consumption of a diet rich in complex carbohydrates and fiber (1-5). Such dietary guidelines, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and by a variety of public and private agencies, often serve as a basis of policy in public health nutrition, including nutrition labeling and allowable health claims. An increasing number of studies show high-fiber, low-fat diets to be protective against disease, including atherosclerosis, colon cancer, and gastrointestinal disease (6-8). Health claims for products high in fiber and complex carbohydrates need to be well supported by scientific evidence. Therefore, accuracy in the definition of complex carbohydrates and fiber for food labeling purposes is an issue of prime importance both to the food industry and the consumer (9).
