Food labeling

Alternative names:

nutrition labeling

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 tell 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 2000 calories.

Near the bottom of the label you will see a list of six nutrients and the recommended daily intakes. The daily values are listed for 2000 and for 2,500 calories. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending of your calorie needs. The amounts of the first four nutrients--total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium--are maximum amounts. That is why the list says "less than" before the number. The amounts of total carbohydrate and dietary fiber are minimum amounts. This is exactly the same on all food labels that carry it. You can use it as a reference.

NUTRIENT CONTENT CLAIMS
A nutrient content claim is a word or phrase on a food package that makes a comment about the nutritional value of the food. The claim will mean the same for every product. The following are some approved nutrient claims.

Calorie terms:

• Low calorie
  • 40 calories or less per serving

• Reduced calorie
  • at least 25% fewer calories per serving when compared with a similar food

• Light, Lite
  • one-third fewer calories or 50% less fat per serving; if more than half the calories are from fat, fat content must be reduced by 50% or more

Sugar terms:

• Sugar free
  • less than 1/2 grams sugars per serving

• Reduced sugar
  • at least 25% less sugar per serving when compared with a similar food.

Fat terms:

• Fat free
  • less than 1/2 gram fat per serving

• 100% fat free
  • meets requirements for fat free

• Low fat
  • 3 grams or less per serving

• Reduced fat
  • at least 25% less fat when compared with a similar food

Cholesterol terms:

• Cholesterol free
  • less than 2 milligrams cholesterol per serving and 2 grams or less saturated fat per serving.

• Low Cholesterol
  • 20 milligrams of less cholesterol per serving and 2 grams or less saturated fat per serving

Sodium terms:

• Sodium free
  • less than 5 milligrams sodium per serving

• Salt free
  • meets requirements for sodium free

HEALTH CLAIMS
For the first time you will see FDA approved and regulated Health claim phrases. A health claim is a food label message that describes the relationship between a food or food component, such as fat, calcium or fiber and a disease or health-related condition.

The government has authorized health claims for seven diet and health relationships that are backed by extensive scientific evidence.
1. Calcium and osteoporosis
2. Fiber containing grain products, fruits, vegetables and cancer
3. Fruits, vegetables and cancer
4. Fruits, vegetables, and grain products that contain fiber and coronary heart disease
5. Fat and cancer
6. Saturated fat and cholesterol and coronary heart disease.
7. Sodium and hypertension

An example of a valid health claim you may see on a high fiber cereal product food label would be: "Many factors affect cancer risk; eating a diet low in fat and high in fiber may lower the risk of this disease".

For further information on specific health claims refer to the information on diet and health.
INGREDIENTS
Food manufacturers are required to list ingredients in descending order by weight, from the most to the least. People with food sensitivities can obtain useful information from the ingredient list on the label.

The ingredient list will include, when appropriate:

• FDA approved color additives
• sources of protein hydrolysates
• caseinate as a milk derivative in foods that claim to be nondairy (such as coffee whiteners)

Most manufacturers offer a toll-free number to answer questions about specific food products and their ingredients.

FOODS EXEMPT FROM FOOD LABELING
Many foods do not have information on them. Some foods are exempt from food labeling. These include:

• restaurant foods
• hospital cafeterias
• airline foods
• food service vendors (such as mall cookie vendors, sidewalk vendors and vending machines)
• ready-to-eat food prepared primarily on the site
• bulk food that is not resold
• food produced by small businesses
• medical foods
• plain coffee and tea
• flavor extracts
• food colors
• spices
• other foods that contain no significant amounts of any nutrients

Stores may voluntarily list nutrients for many raw foods. The 20 most commonly eaten raw fruits and vegetables and seafood will display nutrition information in the store. Nutrition labeling for single-ingredient raw products, such as ground beef and chicken breasts, is also voluntary.

A toll-free consumer hot line of the American Dietetics Association National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics is available to answer questions on the new food Labels. They operate between 10AM and 5PM Eastern time, Monday thru Friday. The number is 1-800-366-1655.