Ch 19: Food Labels Flashcards
FDA requirements: Labels
Display a label that identifies the name of the product, the quantity of product in the package, the name and address of the manufacturer, the ingredient list, the nutrition facts label, and a statement on any common allergens in the food
Name and net quantity of the product are usually the first pieces of information that consumers look at when selecting a product. They are generally displayed on the front of the packaging
Primary Display Panel (PDP).
Two important tools in determining the nutritional value of a product in an individual’s diet
The nutrition facts label and the ingredient list
The standard nutrition facts label, as it appears on most packaged food products, was finalized in 1993 after passage of the:
Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) in 1990
NLEA specifies exactly:
Which nutrients were required to be listed on nutrition labels, the order of listing, and the exact terminology to be used.
Revised Nutrition Fact Labels
- The revised nutrition facts label displays the calorie information in larger and bolder font.
- Calories from fat are no longer required on the revised label.
- The revised label includes both total and added sugars.
- Vitamins A and C are no longer required on the revised label.
- Potassium and vitamin D have been added to the new label.
The Nutrition Label is required to display:
The number of servings per container
Serving size
Total calories per serving
Amount of total fat per serving (in grams), saturated fat (in grams), and trans fat (in grams)
Cholesterol (in milligrams)
Sodium (in milligrams)
Total carbohydrates (in grams)
Dietary fiber (in grams)
Total sugars and added sugars (in grams)
Protein (in grams)
Amounts and the Percent Daily Value for the following vitamins and minerals: vitamin D (in micrograms), calcium (in milligrams), iron (in milligrams), and potassium (in milligrams)
Three categories for organic labeling
100% organic means the product contains only organic ingredients– in other words, ingredients produced using organic standards, not including water and salt. “Organic,” this product contains at least 95% organic ingredients, not including water and salt.
A product that contains at least 70% organic ingredients may be labeled “made with organic ingredients.”
Two key features to look at first on a nutrition label are:
Servings per Container and Serving Size.
The number of servings of a food or dietary supplement provided in a package, based on the specified serving size.
Servings per container
Reference amount for a food or dietary supplement for which nutrition/supplement information is provided.
Serving Size
The amount of food an individual chooses to serve themselves.
Portion Size
The amount in a serving contributed toward the recommended daily value for a nutrient, based on a 2000-calorie diet.
Percent Daily Value
Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed (RACCs)
Serving sizes for the nutrition facts label were recently updated by the FDA to more accurately reflect what individuals eat in one sitting
-Intended to serve as reference amounts for food manufacturers to list on the nutrition label.
Tools to indicate if a product is particularly high or low in a listed nutrient.
Percent daily values
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) recommends:
Products that provide 5% or less of total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium and 20% or more for fiber, vitamins, and minerals
Percent daily values are provided for all listed nutrients on the nutrition facts panel except:
Trans fat, total sugar, and protein
The main micronutrients required on the nutrition facts label include:
Sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, and vitamin D
Food Companies are required to be listed on the nutrition facts label.
If the food has been fortified with any nutrients, or if the food product makes a claim about any nutrient(s)
The new nutrition facts label includes nutrient listings for:
The amount of vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium provided in one serving of a food product.
These four micronutrients are required to be listed on the nutrition label as they are considered to be the ones for which most U.S. adults fail to consume the recommended amounts.
Nutrient listings no longer required on food labels
Vitamins A and C
A reference recommended amount of a nutrient for healthy individuals.
Reference Intakes (In the EU, serves a similar purpose as the percent daily values on a U.S.)
Important tool for evaluating the nutritional value and the contribution of a particular food or food product in an individual’s diet.
Ingredient List
The following are some questions to ask when looking at the ingredients list:
What is the primary ingredient in this product?
Which item is listed first?
Does this correspond with what the product actually claims to be providing?
Product Nutrition Claims: Low Calorie
Contains 40 calories or less per serving
Product Nutrition Claims: Calorie Free
Contains less than 5 calories per serving
Product Nutrition Claims: Low Cholesterol
Contains 20 milligrams or less per serving and 2 grams or less of saturated fat per serving
Product Nutrition Claims: Cholesterol Free
Contains less than 2 milligrams of cholesterol per serving
Product Nutrition Claims: Low Fat
Contains less than 3 grams of fat per serving
Product Nutrition Claims: Reduced Fat
Contains at least 25% less fat per serving than the regular product (for a similar serving size)
Product Nutrition Claims: Low Saturated Fat
Contains 1 gram or less of saturated fat per serving and no more than 15% of calories from saturated fat
Product Nutrition Claims: Saturated Fat-Free
Contains less than 0.5 grams of saturated fat per serving and no greater than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving
Product Nutrition Claims: Fat Free
Contains less than ½ gram of total fat per serving
Product Nutrition Claims: % Fat Free
Contains X% non-fat macronutrients by weight (e.g., 98% fat-free)
Product Nutrition Claims: No Trans Fat
Contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving (does not mean completely free of trans fats)