On Thu, 15 May 2008 17:19:12 GMT, "James Silverton"
> wrote:

> Ms wrote on Thu, 15 May 2008 12:11:30 -0500:
>
>
>> "James Silverton" > wrote in
>> message news:elYWj.3680$LL.1299@trnddc04...
>>> Hello All!
>>>
>>> Today, I used some Campbell's French Onion Soup. The
>>> ingredient list indicated "about 2.5 servings". Why would any
>>> want to serve half a person or is it just a way to reduce the
>>> amounts of fat or salt listed?
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> James Silverton
>>> Potomac, Maryland
>
>> It's because most people don't have the slightest grasp of
>> what a serving means. It does not mean whatever amount is in
>> your bowl or on your plate. Servings are a very specific size.
>> Just because something is called a "serving size" does not
>> mean you can't have more than one serving at a meal. How else
>> do you think you're going to get 6 to 11 servings of grains, 3
>> to 5 of vegetables and 2 to 4 of fruit plus the 2 to 3
>> servings of meat and and 2 to 3 servings of dairy per day?
>
>You are just too kind and forgiving!


And to make all the more clearer (awkard grammar intentional), the USDA
has put out a publication to explain it all to you. Included in this
helpful tract is a note that the serving sizes used in the USDA Food
Guide Pyramid and the Nutrional Facts Label are not necessarily same and
that 'attempts to directly compage Pyramid and label servings may,
therefore, generate confusion'.

I kid you not. Have a look:

http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publication.../Insight22.pdf


As for the difference between a bagel serving size and a bagel you buy,
well that can be partially explained by remembering that a standard
serving of soda was set back when a bottle of coke was 6 oz and now,
with super-sizing, a unit can be anything from a 12-oz can to a 16-oz
bottle to ... how big is a super-big gulp anyway.