When is it okay to call a baked good "fat free"?

[cteavin]

I modified a recipe for Zucchini Brownies to suit my lifestyle and taste and posted a video online. Mine have no butter or oil or extra fat of any kind, so I made the the original title "fat-free zucchini brownies" and got into a couple of quibbles with commenters who pointed out that the cocoa and the yolk have fat. I have to admit, I did debate with myself over that same point before posting but felt my title was accurate. 

 

I'm curious what cooks and chefs think, so I thought I'd see if I could get a conversation going on truth in advertising, so to speak. 

[liuzhou]

It's not so much what "cooks and chefs think" that's important; it's what the law thinks and that is not universal. There are regulations most places, but they differ. What is permissible in one place is often not in another.

Truth in advertising? It'll never happen. All advertising is a trick to make you want something you don't need.

Edited November 18, 2021 by liuzhou (log)

[AAQuesada]

I think it's fine for a headline. Then in the body of the video say 'no added fats'. 

[Anna N]

Ultra low fat might be closer to reality and less likely to annoy. 

[Shelby]

25 minutes ago, Anna N said:

Ultra low fat might be closer to reality and less likely to annoy. 

This would be my vote. 

[heidih]

1 hour ago, Shelby said:

This would be my vote. 

No - makes no sense and reeks of mis-identification  No butter or oil added fat or just show the calorie fat values prominently. What is your target  market? I thought we were past the fat free mania. People can read labels - those who care - do

Edited November 18, 2021 by heidih (log)

[Shelby]

27 minutes ago, heidih said:

No - makes no sense and reeks of mis-identification  No butter or oil added fat or just show the calorie fat values prominently. What is your target  market? I thought we were past the fat free mania. People can read labels - those who care - do

Well because it is low fat....if it's advertised as no fat THAT isn't true.  But it truly is low fat IMO.

[blue_dolphin]

I'm not a cook or a chef, but when I participated in a UCLA study that involved eating a very low fat diet, "no added fat," were the key words.  We were allowed to eat some fat-containing foods like lean fish and whole grains but absolutely no added fats or oils.  I always figured that was dietitian-speak and wouldn't have thought to use it in the title of a cooking video. 

[pastrygirl]

Less than half a gram of fat per serving can be considered fat free because it rounds down to zero.