Food Labels Unit 3 Flashcards
memorization
Nutrients
Provide energy for the body.
Macronutrients
Provide the body with energy. Consists of
Carbohydrates, proteins and fats that are
consumed in large amounts to provide energy
and maintain health.
Empty Calories
Describes food that are high in calories and low in nutrients.
Fiber
Found in the cell wall of plants, in the outer
layer of whole grains, and in the skin of fruits
and veggies.
Carbohydrates
Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. It provides energy and are necessary for
Malnutrition
When a person’s diet is inadequate at meeting
daily requirements for nutrients, vitamins and
fat- the body goes into starvation mode.
Glycemic Index
The rate at which food is digested and turned into energy.
Fatty Acids
Triglycerides that make unsaturated, monosaturated and polyunsaturated nutrients.
Protein
Contains all 9 essential amino acids
Lipids
Fats, oils and related compounds such as cholesterol.
Natural Foods
refer to foods that have NO ARTIFICIAL ingredients.
Organic
Foods that are grown WITHOUT the use of CHEMICALS OR chemical FERTILIZERS.
Private Label
A STORE brand. An example is NO NAME, COMPLIMENTS
Open Dating
A date on the package to tell you when the food was MADE.
It is recommended that you eat food before the BEST BEFORE date, but if you are
past the date, it is still SAFE to eat.
Expiry Date
The ABSOLUTE/VERY last possible day you can/should eat the food.
Always check dates and don’t eat spoiled food.
UPC code
A PATTERN of STRAIGHT lines of the package that IDENTIFY the product.
– USED FOR RECALLS/ SAFETY/ FRESHNESS/ LOCATION TRACKING
Benefits of reading food labels/nutrition info
- You learn about what is actually in your food
- It helps you make informed choices about what you’re eating
- You can limit harmful foods like fat, salt and sugar and increase good nutrients like fiber, vitamins and minerals
Nutrients that must be listed in the information panel
- Serving size
- Calories
- % Daily value
- 13 core nutrients
- fat
- saturated fat
- trans fat
- cholesterol
- Sodium
- Carbs
- Fiber
- Sugar
- Protein
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Calcium
- Iron
Difference between Fat Free, Low in Fat and Reduced Fat
Fat Free: the amount is so small that health expert consider it nutritionally insignificant
Low in Fat: 3 g of fat of less
Reduced Fat: at least 25% less nutrients compared to a similar product
Difference between a label that says the product is LIGHT and a food
that is light in fat?
Light Labels: refers to light in colour or light in calories
Light in Fat: 50 % fewer calories than regular- Don’t be fooled – the calories are not zero
Difference between Calorie Reduced and Low Calorie foods
Calorie Reduced: 25% less energy than food that it’s compared to
Low Calorie: amount is so small that it’s considered insignificant
Difference between Sugar Free and No Sugar Added?
Sugar free has no sugar
No sugar added means that there is no added sugar, but that the
product can contain natural sugar.
If you choose a Very High source of calcium over a High or Excellent source of
calcium, how much more value (or percentage) of calcium would you receive
from the product?
Very High Source of Calcium: 20% or more of daily value of calcium
High or excellent source of calcium: 10-11% of daily value
Source of calcium: less than 10% of your daily value
ANSWER – 9-10% more CALCIUM WITH VERY HIGH OVER EXCELLENT
Nutrition information on food labels is found in three different places:
*Nutrition Facts, which is now mandatory on almost all pre-packaged foods
*Nutrition claims, which have been expanded to include more claims, and
*The list of ingredients.
The Facts table is:
*found on almost all prepackaged food products;
*usually presented in this standard format so it looks the same from one product to another,
making it easier to find; and
*printed in legible and clear type, making it easy to read.
Nutrition Facts includes:
*the specific amount of food (serving size) on which all nutrient information is based;
*Calories (energy content) and these 13 core nutrients (core nutrients are the ones that are
mandatory on most labels);
*the actual amount of a nutrient, in grams and milligrams; and
*the % Daily Value, a number that gives you the ability to determine whether there is a lot or a
little of a specific nutrient in the food.
Serving Size
*the specific amount of food listed under the “Nutrition Facts” title
*all nutrient information is based on this amount of food
*listed in common measures you use at home
% Daily Value
- can make it easier to compare foods
- helps you see if a food has a lot or a little of a nutrient
- provides a context to the actual amount of a nutrient
% Daily Value makes it easy to see if there is a lot or a little of a nutrient without having to do
any math
How can You Use Nutrition Facts to make informed food choices?
*Increasing or DECREASING a specific nutrient…
*Choosing between two SIMILAR products…
List of Ingredients
*all of the ingredients for a food are listed by weight, from the most to the least (the ingredient
that is in the largest amount is listed first)
*is present on PACKAGED FOOD
*is a source of ALLERGY INFORMATION
*is a source of certain NUTRIENT INFORMATION
Nutrition Claims
*regulated statements made when a food meets certain criteria
*optional, so may be found only on some food products
*often on the FRONT OF PACKAGES
*a quick and EASY WAY TO GET INFO ABOUT FOOD
Nutrition Claims
FREE none or hardly any of this nutrient
* an example is “sodium free”
LOW a small amount
* an example is “low fat”
REDUCED at least 25% less of the nutrient than a similar product
* an example is “reduced in Calories”
LIGHT * can be used on foods that are reduced in fat or reduced in Calories
increase the amount of certain nutrients
SOURCE contains a useful amount of the nutrient
- an example is “source of fibre”
HIGH OR GOOD
SOURCE
contains a high amount of the nutrient
- an example is “high in vitamin C”
VERY HIGH OR
EXCELLENT SOURCE
contains a very high amount of the
nutrient
* an example is “excellent source of
calcium”
What types of foods are most promoted to children?
Junk food
Fast food (fries)
What is the problem with advertising junk food to children through social media?
Alter their perception of a normal diet and they will continue to eat like this resulting in chronic diseases later on in life
Increases obesity
Why do you think that obesity has doubled in children since the 1970’s?
Advertisements and cheaper prices
Markets grow which leads to competition between fast food companies leading to more ads
Increase exposure of ads which makes kids want it more which leads to parents buying it
What could be some potential issues with the study that was done?
The case study was for 7-16 year old’s
How many 7 year old’s actually have / use social media vs games
Narrow the age gap and analyze two different demographics
Five minute study (observe kids for longer periods of time)
Easy/Convenience
The ad tells how or why the product is easy to use or prepare.
Can also be way to make life looker easier with the use of the product.
Good Deed
Links the product with humanitarian causes that are popular
with the target consumer to make the consumer feel like their
purchase is accomplishing something good in the world.
Comfort
The ad explains how you will enjoy the product because of the way it looks, tastes, smells, feels, etc.
Status
Associates the product with people who “have made it” or use the best products.
Contest
The possibility of winning something is a good reason to buy the product.
Independence
Associates the product with people who can think and act for themselves.
Scale
The product looks large and delicious in the ad, but that’s not usually the way the product looks after you buy it.
Health
The ad tells how the product will contribute towards your overall wellbeing and wellness.
Excitement
An entertaining ad that will help you remember the product and make you want to buy it.
Put Downs
The product is compared to a competing product by making negative comments about the competition.
Facts and Figures
A message that is prepared in a simple, direct way. Often uses facts or statistics to make a product look more appealing.
Catch Phrase or Slogan
Ads feature attention getting catchy phrasing.
Weasel Words
Use of familiar phrases or words to increase product recognition.
Incentives/Extra features
Providing extra features like a recipe book to promote the products versatility.
Heart Strings
Appealing to someone’s emotions – could be happy, sad or angry
Testimonials
Someone, not necessarily a celebrity, relates their satisfaction with the product.
Star Power/ Celeb Endorsement
Associates the product with a well-known person who endorsee the use of the product.
Discounts
Coupons or special offers are prominent in the ad.
Bandwagon
Implies that everyone else is using the product, so why not you?
Are you cool enough?
Associates the product with popularity, friendship and acceptance.
Romance
Associates the product with feelings of love and warmth.
Family Fun/Ideal
for families
All members of a family are happy and are having fun using the product.
Shock
Grabs your attention so that you take a second look.
Guarantee
Use of statements such as “satisfaction guaranteed or your money back”.
