Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 14, 1990                   TAG: 9003133223
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-9   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: JEFF NESMITH COX NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Medium

BEAN SOUP, SNICKERS SCORE BIG IN FIBER TEXT

Dietitians at the Center for Science in the Public Interest said consumers trying to increase the amount of fiber in their diets may be surprised at where they find it.

For example, a Snickers bar has more fiber than a Nature Valley Granola Bar.

And a serving of Pritikin Navy Bean Soup has more fiber than a serving of Kellogg's All Bran cereal.

Dietary fiber is thought to have several health benefits, including cutting the risk of colon cancer and reducing blood cholesterol levels.

The National Cancer Institute, the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. surgeon general's office and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute are among the organizations that have recommended increases in dietary fiber.

The cancer institute says Americans should consume 20 or 30 grams of fiber a day, instead of the average of about 10 grams a day.

"Unfortunately, you can't find the fiber content on a lot of food labels," said Jayne Hurley, a nutritionist with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington-based consumer group.

Therefore, she said, the group compiled a list of the fiber and fat content of more than 300 brand name and generic foods. The findings for about half of foods on the list are published in the current edition of the center's newsletter, "Nutrition Action Healthletter." The entire list is available on a wall chart.

"We got most of this information from manufacturers," said Hurley. "Since measuring fiber is a complex process, they are probably a more reliable source of information than the U.S. Department of Agriculture."

The list combines soluble and insoluble fiber in a single reading. In foods where company information is not available, such as a baked potato with broccoli and cheese (20 grams fat, 7.3 grams fiber), she estimated fat and fiber content on the basis of government averages for separate components.

The big winner on the survey turned out to be Pritikin Navy Bean Soup, a 10-ounce serving of which has 1 gram of fat and 20.3 grams of fiber. A half-cup of Kellogg's All Bran has 1 gram of fat and 14.0 grams of fiber. Other findings include:

A Snickers candy bar, 13 grams of fat and 1.4 grams of fiber.

A Nature Valley Granola Bar, 5 grams of fat and 0.8 gram of fiber.

A half-cup of Campbell's Old Fashioned Beans, 2 grams of fat and 14.7 grams of fiber.

Four ounces of tofu, 5 grams of fat and 1.4 grams of fiber.

Kellogg Special K, no fat and no fiber.

A large apple, no fat and 4.7 grams of fiber. A peach, no fat and 1.4 gram of fiber.

A fourth of a cup of peanuts, 18 grams of fat and 2.9 grams of fiber.

Lean Cuisine Oriental Beef with vegetables, 7 grams of fat and 1.3 grams of fiber.