GI Values Update

Many of the products in GI Values Update are not available in the USA. Why’s that?
The answer is pretty simple. Very few US companies are GI testing their products, and those that are don’t always release the results for publication. Where do the values we publish in GI News come from? We publish the GI values of foods that have been tested by a lab that provides a legitimate GI testing service following the standardised in vivo procedure – and currently there are only a few centres around the world that do this. We also need the manufacturer to give us permission to publish the results. And they don’t always do this. We really do understand how frustrating it is not to be able to find the GI of your favourite foods. We always urge people to hound manufacturers to get their foods GI tested. But we also know that’s much easier said than done, especially when you use the ‘HOW TO CONTACT US’ page on that corporate website. Following a recent press release that was published internationally, we asked Kraft in the US for a few more details about a new ‘healthy’ range of snacks and cereals that they are promoting. We filled in all the ‘compulsory (asterisked) fields, so they probably now know more about us than we do about their products.

GI Group: ‘Have you glycemic index tested your ‘Back to Nature’ granolas, cereals, cookies and crackers? Are any low GI? Are any gluten free? If not do you plan to GI test these products in future?’

Kraft: ‘Thank you for visiting www.kraft.com/responsibility. Unfortunately, we don’t have that information available at this time. If you haven’t done so already, please add our site to your favorites and visit us again soon!’

Don’t despair. Keep hounding and together we will make a difference. It just may take a bit of time. And please tell us about products you know have been GI tested by an accredited laboratory. The takehome message: Enjoy plenty of the foods that are naturally low GI (legumes/pulses, fruit and vegetables, pasta and noodles, reduced fat dairy foods). To find out more about them, you might like to check out a copy of Low GI Eating Made Easy which has a whole section on the top 100 low GI foods you can tuck into without worrying about brands.

The latest GI values from SUGiRS

Fiona Atkinson

These super tasty breakfast cereals now on the shelves in Australian supermarkets had to be kept under lock and key during GI testing reports Fiona Atkinson from the SUGiRS team.

Vogel’s Café Style Fibre-Rich Muesli GI 48
Vogel’s Cluster Crunch Classic GI 50
Vogel’s Cluster Crunch Honey Hazelnut GI 43
Wild Oats Cluster Crunch Hazelnut Chocolate GI 43

• For nutrition and product information from the manufacturer, check out www.vogels.com.au for the Vogels products and www.specialtycereals.com.au for the Wild Oats product.
• For information on nominal serve sizes, available carbohydrate and glycemic load, check out the GI database at www.glycemicindex.com

GI Symbol Program News
Australian health bread specialist, Country Life Bakery has created a low GI gluten-free loaf. This ground-breaking product will be welcomed by all those in Australia who need to eat a gluten-free diet and keep their blood glucose on an even keel.

Country Life Low GI Gluten-free Bread GI 40

• For nutrition and product information, check out www.countrylife.com.au

And four more delicious breads from Goodman Fielder carry the GI symbol
Vogel’s Rye with Sunflower GI 47
Vogel’s Soy + Linseed with Oats GI 49
Vogel’s Seven Seed GI 50
Vogel’s Original Mixed Grain GI 54

What does the GI symbol mean?
The GI symbol on a food is a guarantee that the stated GI value is reliable and that the food is a healthy choice in its food group. To earn certification, foods that carry the symbol must be a good source of carbohydrate and meet a host of other nutrient criteria including kilojoules (calories), total and saturated fat, sodium (salt), and where appropriate, dietary fibre and calcium. The GI Symbol Program is a public health initiative run by Glycemic Index Limited, a non-profit company whose members are the University of Sydney, Diabetes Australia and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Where can I get more information on the GI symbol program?

Alan Barclay
Acting CEO, Glycemic Index Ltd
Phone: +61 2 9785 1037
Fax: +61 2 9785 1037
Email: awbarclay@optusnet.com.au
Web www.gisymbol.com.au

Where can I get more information on GI testing?

North America
Dr Alexandra Jenkins
Glycemic Index Laboratories
36 Lombard Street, Suite 100
Toronto, Ontario M5C 2X3 Canada
Phone +1 416 861 0506
Email info@gilabs.com
Web www.gilabs.com

Australia
Fiona Atkinson
Research Manager, Sydney University Glycemic Index Research Service (SUGiRS)
Human Nutrition Unit, School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences
Sydney University
NSW 2006 Australia
Phone + 61 2 9351 6018
Fax: + 61 2 9351 6022
Email sugirs@mmb.usyd.edu.au
Web www.glycemicindex.com

New Zealand
Dr Tracy Perry
The Glycemic Research Group, Dept of Human Nutrition
University of Otago
PO Box 56 Dunedin New Zealand
Phone +64 3 479 7508
Email tracy.perry@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Web glycemicindex.otago.ac.nz