You’ve got questions. Our nutrition team has answers. Check out some of the frequently asked questions below. Have more questions about nutrition, diabetes, snacking or eating well? Contact us and we’ll help answer your question. We may even add it to the list.
A. Murray® Sugar Free understands that a person with diabetes has special dietary needs. Our products list Dietary Exchange information on the Nutrition Facts side panel. The dietary exchanges are based on the Exchange Lists for Meal Planning, ©2003 by The American Diabetes Association, Inc. and The American Dietetic Association.
However, our cookies do contain carbohydrates and calories and cannot be eaten without concern for portion size. The Nutrition Facts on our packages offer the information you need to choose products that meet your personal health and nutritional requirements. Persons with diabetes should look to their personal physician or dietitian for the most appropriate diet plan for them.
A. If the product is Kosher certified, the packaging will contain a symbol designating the certification category. This symbol is located on the front panel of the package under the name of the product.
Over time these Kosher certifications may change, so the best way to determine a product's Kosher status is to look at the package. The product's package will always reflect the correct information.
We do not offer Kosher lists of our products, as these may become outdated and inaccurate over time. However, the product's package will always reflect the correct information.
A. Yes, Murray® Sugar Free cookies can be a part of a healthy eating plan for people with and without diabetes.
A. The recommended number of Murray® Sugar Free cookies that will fit into your healthy eating plan is dependent on the rest of the foods and beverages consumed throughout the day. Diabetic exchanges are listed on the side panel of each cookie package for your convenience, as well as information on cookies per serving. If you still need more information, we recommend talking with a registered dietitian near you.
A. The diabetic exchange for fats and carbohydrates are listed on the side panel for each flavor of Murray® Sugar Free cookie.
A. Yes, even though Murray® Sugar Free does not contain sugar, it still contains carbohydrates. It is important for people with diabetes to look at the total carbohydrate content per serving of a product. The serving size on the Nutrition Facts panel serves as a guide for the amount of the product to eat at one time.
A. The carbohydrate content for each flavor of Murray® Sugar Free cookie can be found on the Nutrition Facts Panel on the side of each package.
A. Yes, Murray® Sugar Free uses a combination of sugar substitutes in its products to make them "sugar free."
A. Sugar alcohols are neither sugar nor alcohol as you traditionally think of them. Sugar alcohols are ingredients that are used to add sweet flavors to food. The term alcohol refers to the chemical structure of these sweeteners; they do not contain ethanol (pronounced: eth a nol), which is the type of alcohol in adult beverages.
A. Products with sugar alcohols often have fewer calories than products with sugar, since many sugar alcohols contribute a lower quantity of calories per gram than sugar. However, sugar alcohols are carbohydrates and still contain calories.
A. Sugar alcohols are often found in food marketed as suitable for people with diabetes. For diabetics, sugar alcohols are helpful because they affect blood glucose levels less dramatically than sugar. Although they metabolize more slowly, sugar alcohols may still raise blood glucose levels. It is important for people with diabetes to look at the total carbohydrate content per serving of a product since sugar alcohols contribute calories to the diet. Therefore, products containing sugar alcohols need to be consumed in moderation. The serving size on the Nutrition Facts panel serves as a guide for the amount of the product to eat at one time.
A. Our chocolate coated cookies contain a small amount of hydrogenated fat in the coating and the peanut butter cookies have a very small amount in the peanut butter that we use. The smallest amount needed is used in order to have the coating harden and adhere to the cookie surface. The amount is less than 0.5 grams (less than 1/10th teaspoon) per serving.
A. Yes, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including those with diabetes, tell us to limit the amount of saturated fat in the diet to maintain a healthy eating plan. To learn more, visit www.mypyramid.gov.
A. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines specify that percentages should be rounded up if over 0.5 grams or down if under. So if the amount of
trans fats is less than half a gram (0.5 grams) per serving, FDA labeling guidelines state that the Nutrition Facts label must show the total amount of
trans fats per serving as zero grams (0 grams). Likewise, if the amount of
trans fats in a product is 0.75 grams per serving, the total amount would b e shown as 1 gram
trans fats per serving.
As a result, you may see a few products that list 0 grams trans fats on the label, while the ingredient list will include "shortening," "partially hydrogenated vegetable oil," or "hydrogenated vegetable oil." This means the food contains very small amounts (less than 0.5 g, or about 1/10 of a teaspoon) of trans fat per serving.
Sometimes hydrogenated oils are also used in the processing of foods. For example, hydrogenated oils sometimes are used as a coating on machines to prevent sticking, as you would use butter or margarine at home on a pie or cake pan to prevent sticking.