In the rush to get Atkins-friendly versions of their products to market, food companies are risking FDA reprimands for labeling law infractions.
The popularity of the Atkins diet has been a boon to beef producers but a disaster for bakers, orange juice makers and processors of carbohydrate-heavy foods. Instead of cursing the Atkins name and accepting a sales swoon, many companies are fighting back with reduced-carb versions of their mainstream products. The success of Michelob Ultra spawned a host of similar beers, and Sara Lee Bakery's new Delightful Breads are among a spate of lower-carb grain products staking out shelf space. Lactose boosts the carb index of a glass of milk; dairy processors are responding with lactose-reduced milk (HP Hood and Southwest Dairy) and ice cream like Mayfield Dairy Farms' Less Carbs that rely on artificial sweeteners.