Food labeling

Alternative names

Nutrition labeling

Definition

Information found on the labels of most packaged foods.

Function

Serving size:
Based on an average portion size. Similar food products have similar serving sizes to make comparison between products easier.

Amounts per serving:

The Calories and the calories from fat are listed. These numbers will help consumers make decisions about fat intake. The list of nutrients (total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, sugars, protein) includes those most important to the health of today's consumer. The amount, in grams (g) or milligrams (mg), per serving of these nutrients is listed to their immediate right.

Vitamins and minerals:

Only two vitamins, A and C, and two minerals, calcium and iron, are required on the food label. Food companies can voluntarily list other vitamins and minerals in the food. When vitamins or minerals are added or when a vitamin or mineral claim is made, those nutrients must be listed on the nutrition label.

Percent daily value:

The amounts of vitamins and minerals are listed as a Percent Daily Value on the nutrition label. The Percent Daily Value for vitamins and minerals gives a general idea of how much of a vitamin or mineral a serving contributes to the total daily diet. For example, if the Percent Daily Value for Vitamin C of all the foods you eat in a day adds up to 100%, your diet meets the recommendation for Vitamin C.

Food Sources

The U. S. Government mandates food labels on most packaged foods. The label offers complete, useful and accurate nutrition information. They encourage food manufacturers to improve the quality of their products and help the consumer make healthier food choices. They provide a consistent format to help you directly compare the nutritional content of various foods. Food labels have the title "Nutrition Facts."

Recommendations

The Daily Values section shows how a food fits into the overall daily diet. The value of the nutrient is given in percentages. The Percent Daily Value gives the food's nutritional content based on a 2,000-calorie diet. You can use this to quickly compare foods and see how the amount of a nutrient in a serving of food fits into a 2,000-calorie diet.

For example, a food that has 13 grams of fat with a Percent Daily Value of 20% means that 13 grams of fat is 20%, or one-fifth, of the total daily fat recommended for a person who eats 2,000 calories per day.