Label info only flaw for tasty Twists

I need to clarify a portion of our review of NECCO Chocolate Wafers that ran in Supermarket Sampler the week of Jan. 20. NECCO Wafers are still made with corn syrup. The New England Confectionary Co. did NOT remove high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from its updated NECCO formulation, as NECCO candies never contained HFCS, a processed form of corn syrup. HFCS is a controversial ingredient that some companies are removing from some of their products.

— Bonnie Tandy Leblang

Pepperidge Farm Petite Treats. Raspberry Twists, Sweet Cinnamon Twists, Chocolate Creme Pirouettes and Chocolate Hazelnut Pirouettes. $3.39 per 3-ounce to 5.3-ounce can.

Bonnie: I get irritated at what companies decide to tout on their product labels. Take these new Pepperidge Farm Petite Twists and cream-filled Pirouettes, for example. Emblazoned on each can is a 90 in a circle and the words "90 calories in 3 wafers" on the Pirouettes, and "less than 90 calories in 2 pastries" on the Twists.

The implication is that a serving has 90 calories. Wrong. There are 120 calories and 4 to 6 grams of fat in a serving of four Pirouettes, and 130 calories and 4.5 grams of fat in a serving of three Twists. Not bad for cookies (I personally prefer the less-sweet Twists over the sugary Pirouettes), but not 90 calories.

Lesson: Make your purchase decisions based on a product's government-regulated Nutrition Facts panel rather than package advertising.

Carolyn: This new Pepperidge Farm Petite sub-line is the cookie equivalent of Skinny Cow ice cream novelties or Dove Promise chocolates: Namely, a sweet indulgence that won't crash the diet.

The problem (as Bonnie just pointed out) is that the two-Twist or three-Pirouette-wafer 90-calorie snack suggested on the can front is neither enough nor an official serving size. These cookies are also not individually wrapped and so tasty that without a cellophane barrier, it's unlikely many will be satisfied with even a larger, Nutrition Facts-defined serving.

Pepperidge Farm — and other companies — have made pirouette-like cookies for years. The only thing new about these Pepperidge Farm ones is their reduced size. No, the real excitement here besides the cute cans (perfect for storing something — don't throw them out!) — is the debut of Pepperidge Farm Twists, a grocery store incarnation of your local bakery's multilayered elephant-ears pastries.

Frozen pastry-maker Pepperidge Farm is introducing these in this mini form, but I, for one, hope these crunchy, sugary delights will soon be offered in larger sizes.

McCormick Flavored Ground Black Pepper. Worcestershire Blend, and Smokehouse. $1.99 per 2-ounce can.