'carbohydrates (plural) are found in foods' vs 'carbohydrate is found in foods'

[Ksyusha]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #315 "Health and Nutrition Questions Test (1)", question 8

......... is found in foods such as potatoes and pasta dishes.

(a) Batter
(b) Digestion
(c) Carbohydrate

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #315 "Health and Nutrition Questions Test (1)", answer 8

Carbohydrate is found in foods such as potatoes and pasta dishes.

Correct answer: (c) Carbohydrate
_________________________

The correct answer supposed to be "carbohydrates (plural) are found in foods ... " Practically never carbohydrate is used in single form in English language. Carbohydrates, fats and protein!!!

[Alan]

Hi,

The singular form

[Ksyusha]

Hi, Alan, thanks for replying. With all the respect let me not agree with you 100%. I live in US and it might be just culture specific but in a general phrase like this they will never use singular form. Only in very rare cases (may be seeing it as a chemical substance) which is not the case with the test question. Sugar is different because it's exactly the opposite. You are right "sugar is found in chocolate..", but on chemical level "some simple sugars, such as glucose, fructose, ... are found". I have Master's in Nutrition so I had to deal with this a lot. Just to sum it up: Carbohydrates are found in potatoes, rice and pasta. Starch is a carbohydrate found in plants (chemical substance). Sugar is found in lots of foods and should be avoided by obese people. Simple sugars are the most dangerous kind for people suffering from diabetes. (chemical substances again)