What to look for when reading food labels?
Photo: iStock You could be forgiven for feeling slightly confused when it comes to understanding food labels. Claims and health-related ... and as such is the most important thing to look at if you want to know exactly what is in the foods you are buying.
How to read a food label Part 1?
- Product name and Brand name
- Species the food is designed for
- Product quantity in the lower 1/3
- Ingredient statement
- Guaranteed analysis
- Nutritional adequacy statement (This is the “Complete and balanced for” all life stages/growth/adult maintenance, etc)
- Feeding instructions
- Manufacturer/Distributor name and address
How to read and understand food labels?
How to read food labels: The basics. Food labels serve several purposes. Usually, on the front of the label, you’ll find the name of the product, as well as brand identifiers like the company logo, colors, taglines, and contact information. Featured less prominently will be a complete list of ingredients contained within the product.
How to evaluate a food label?
How to Evaluate a Food Label
- Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) We have all heard that MSG is not the best ingredient to consume but why? MSG is used in savory foods and restaurants.
- Maltodextrin. This is an additive that is derived from wheat, corn rice, or potato starch. ...
- Guar Gum. ...
- Xanthan Gum. ...
- Carrageenan. ...
Why do people look at food labels?
People look at food labels for a variety of reasons. But whatever the reason, many consumers would like to know how to use this information more effectively and easily. The following label-reading skills are intended to make it easier for you to use the Nutrition Facts labels to make quick, informed food decisions to help you choose a healthy diet.
What is the bottom section of a nutrition label?
The bottom section contains a footnote that explains the % Daily Value and gives the number of calories used for general nutrition advice.
What are added sugars on the nutrition facts label?
Added Sugars on the Nutrition Facts label include sugars that are added during the processing of foods (such as sucrose or dextrose), foods packaged as sweeteners (such as table sugar), sugars from syrups and honey, and sugars from concentrated fruit or vegetable juices.
Why do we need dual column labels?
The purpose of this type of dual-column labeling is to allow people to easily identify how many calories and nutrients they are getting if they eat or drink the entire package/unit at one time. For example, a bag of pretzels with 3 servings per container might have a label that looks like this to show you how many calories and other nutrients would be in one serving and in one package (3 servings).
What is section 3 of sample label?
Look at section 3 in the sample label. It shows you some key nutrients that impact your health. You can use the label to support your personal dietary needs – look for foods that contain more of the nutrients you want to get more of and less of the nutrients you may want to limit.
Is there a daily reference value for total sugars?
Total Sugars: No Daily Reference Value has been established for Total Sugars because no recommendations have been made for the total amount to eat in a day. Keep in mind that the Total Sugars listed on the Nutrition Facts label include naturally occurring sugars (like those in fruit and milk) as well as Added Sugars.
Search for Labels on DailyMed
The labels are also available on the National Library of Medicine's DailyMed 4 web site. You can search for labels by drug name and link to the Library’s information resources about marketed drugs.
Additional Resources
Information about animal and human drug products can be found on these FDA Web pages:
What are the facts on a food label?
Facts on Food Labels. Food labels contain clues to a food’s fat and cholesterol content, including the amount per serving. Compare similar foods and select the one with the smallest amounts of fat and cholesterol. Two important parts of a food label are the “Nutrition Facts” panel, which contains nutrition information, and the ingredients list.
What does the nutrition label show?
The Nutrition Facts label shows you how much fat is in a product, even if the fat is hidden as an ingredient. The serving size and the nutrients listed on this label are consistent, which makes it easy to compare similar products without any calculations.
When is an ingredient list required on a label?
Ingredients List: When a food is made with more than one ingredient , an ingredients list is required on the label. Ingredients are listed in order by weight, with the greatest amount listed first and the least amount last.
Where to find nutrition facts on food?
Nutrient & Health Claims: In addition to the “Nutrition Facts” label on the side or back of the package, check the health and nutrient claims on the front of the product. These claims, which provide optional information, tell you that the food contains desirable levels of the stated nutrients.
Who purchases products in accordance with the CN labeling program?
Products produced in accordance with the CN Labeling Program are generally purchased by foodservice providers for FNS meal programs.
What is CN labeling?
The USDA, Child Nutrition (CN) Label ing Program provides food manufacturers the option to include a standardized food crediting statement on their product label.
How much gluten is in a food label?
According to the rule, manufacturers must ensure that their products contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten in order to carry the "gluten-free" label. 1 .
Is gluten free food labeling required?
The gluten-free food labeling requirements only apply to packaged foods. The rule doesn’t apply to meat, poultry, or unshelled eggs or to distilled spirits and wines made with 7% alcohol by volume or more.
Is gluten on food labels?
Instead, it suggests an acceptable level of gluten as determined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Unlike food allergens, manufacturers are not required to disclose gluten on food labels—only wheat—making it all the more difficult to choose "safe" products if you have extreme gluten sensitivity. 1
Is there a standard symbol for gluten free foods?
There is no standard symbol for gluten-free foods. Manufacturers can simply print "gluten-free" on their label as long as it is truthful. Moreover, there is not one certification criterion in the United States.
Is gluten free food cross contaminated?
Gluten-Free Certification. A food with no gluten-containing ingredients still can be cross-contaminated with gluten during processing. This is why it's extra important to pay attention to labels if you have extreme gluten sensitivity and to only choose foods certified gluten-free.
Why is it so hard to read food labels?
Reading labels can be tricky. Consumers are more health-conscious than ever , so some food manufacturers use misleading tricks to convince people to buy highly processed and unhealthy products. Food labeling regulations are complex, making it harder for consumers to understand them. This article explains how to read food labels ...
What does a nutrition label say?
Nutrition labels state how many calories and nutrients are in a standard amount of the product — often a suggested single serving.
How are ingredients listed in a product?
Product ingredients are listed by quantity — from highest to lowest amount.
How to find nutritional value of food?
If you’re interested in knowing the nutritional value of what you’re eating, you need to multiply the serving given on the back by the number of servings you consumed.
How to avoid being misled by product labels?
The best way to avoid being misled by product labels is to avoid processed foods altogether. After all, whole food doesn’t need an ingredients list. Still, if you decide to buy packaged foods, be sure to sort out the junk from the higher-quality products with the helpful tips in this article.
What is the purpose of health claims on packaged food?
Health claims on packaged food are designed to catch your attention and convince you that the product is healthy.
What is front label?
Front labels try to lure you into purchasing products by making health claims.
Overview
Serving Information
- (#1 on sample label) When looking at the Nutrition Facts label, first take a look at the number of servings in the package (servings per container) and the serving size. Serving sizes are standardized to make it easier to compare similar foods; they are provided in familiar units, such as cups or pieces, followed by the metric amount, e.g., the num...
Calories
- (#2 on sample label) Calories provide a measure of how much energy you get from a serving of this food. In the example, there are 280 calories in one serving of lasagna. What if you ate the entire package? Then, you would consume 4 servings, or 1,120 calories. To achieve or maintain a healthy body weight, balance the number of calories you eat and drink with the number of calori…
Nutrients
- (#3 on sample label) Look at section 3 in the sample label. It shows you some key nutrients that impact your health. You can use the label to support your personal dietary needs – look for foods that contain more of the nutrients you want to get more of and less of the nutrients you may want to limit. 1. Nutrients to get less of: Saturated Fat, Sodium, and Added Sugars. Saturated fat, sodi…
The Percent Daily Value
- (#4 on sample label) The % Daily Value (%DV) is the percentage of the Daily Value for each nutrient in a serving of the food. The Daily Values are reference amounts (expressed in grams, milligrams, or micrograms) of nutrients to consume or not to exceed each day. The %DV shows how much a nutrient in a serving of a food contributes to a total daily diet. The %DV helps you de…
Nutrition Facts Label Variations
- Many Nutrition Facts labels on the market will be formatted in the same way as the lasagna label that has been used as an example throughout this page, but there are other formats of the label that food manufacturers are permitted to use. This final section will present two alternate formats: the dual-column label and the single-ingredient sugar label. In addition to dual-column l…