YONKERS, NY — Craving a delicious light ice cream? Consumer Reports suggests Häagen-Dazs Extra Rich Light in Vanilla Bean or Dutch Chocolate. Both topped the magazine’s latest taste-tests of ten light and fat free ice creams – but also had the highest fat and calorie content of those tested. The full report and ratings are featured in the August issue.
Häagen-Dazs Extra Rich Light in Vanilla Bean or Dutch Chocolate are for the indulgent. Both were rated Very Good by Consumer Reports and were better-tasting than the other brands tested, but had about twice the calories and fat (200 calories for both flavors; 7 grams of fat for Vanilla Bean and 5 grams of fat for Dutch Chocolate). Still, a serving of Häagen-Dazs Extra Rich Light pares 70 calories and more than 10 grams of fat from regular Häagen-Dazs ice cream.
Consumers should expect to spend more for a better taste – Häagen-Dazs Extra Rich Light in Vanilla Bean and Dutch Chocolate costs about twice as much per serving as the other brands tested – about $1.00 per half-cup serving.
To feel a bit more virtuous, consider Breyers Double Churn Light Creamy in vanilla or chocolate. Both flavors did well in Consumer Reports’ taste-tests and were lighter on the wallet (about 43 cents per half-cup serving) and the diet (100 calories and about 3 grams of fat).
Consumer Reports also taste-tested Dreyer’s/Edy’s Slow Churned in vanilla and chocolate and Breyers Free Fat Free Double Churn in Creamy Vanilla and French Chocolate and Turkey Hill Light Recipe in Vanilla Bean and Blue Bunny Premium Light in Vanilla.
Deciphering the labels
“Light” means a food contains one-third fewer calories or half the fat of a regular version. A “low fat” serving has 3 grams or less of fat; a “lower fat” or “reduced fat serving contains at least 25 percent less fat than a regular version; a “fat free” serving has less than a half-gram of fat.
The full report and Ratings are featured in the August issue of Consumer Reports, on sale July 1. It’s also available on www.ConsumerReports.org.
Consumer Reports is a nonprofit
membership organization that works side by side with consumers to
create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. For 80 years, CR has provided evidence-based product
testing and ratings, rigorous research, hard-hitting investigative journalism, public education,
and steadfast policy action on behalf of consumers’ interests. Unconstrained by advertising or
other commercial influences, CR has exposed landmark public health and safety issues and strives
to be a catalyst for pro-consumer changes in the marketplace. From championing responsible auto
safety standards, to winning food and water protections, to enhancing healthcare quality, to
fighting back against predatory lenders in the financial markets, Consumer Reports has always
been on the front lines, raising the voices of consumers.
© 2008 Consumer Reports. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may
not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports® is an expert, independent,
nonprofit organization whose mission is to work side by side with consumers to create a fairer,
safer, and healthier world. We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are
not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports®
magazine, ConsumerReports.org® and our other publications and information products, services, fees,
and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use
of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other
commercial purpose without our prior written permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open
to it to prevent unauthorized commercial use of its content and trademarks.
Consumer Reports is a nonprofit
membership organization that works side by side with consumers to
create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. For 80 years, CR has provided evidence-based product
testing and ratings, rigorous research, hard-hitting investigative journalism, public education,
and steadfast policy action on behalf of consumers’ interests. Unconstrained by advertising or
other commercial influences, CR has exposed landmark public health and safety issues and strives
to be a catalyst for pro-consumer changes in the marketplace. From championing responsible auto
safety standards, to winning food and water protections, to enhancing healthcare quality, to
fighting back against predatory lenders in the financial markets, Consumer Reports has always
been on the front lines, raising the voices of consumers.
© 2008 Consumer Reports. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may
not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports® is an expert, independent,
nonprofit organization whose mission is to work side by side with consumers to create a fairer,
safer, and healthier world. We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are
not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports®
magazine, ConsumerReports.org® and our other publications and information products, services, fees,
and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use
of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other
commercial purpose without our prior written permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open
to it to prevent unauthorized commercial use of its content and trademarks.
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