Deciphering Food Labels
Research has shown that eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, some cancers, and osteoporosis. And the grocery store shelves are full of foods with packaging promising to help do that.
But it's important to take a close look — beyond the promises — at the nutritional values, ingredients, and calorie counts in the food you buy, and to understand how they factor into your family's healthy eating.
Food labels provide this information and allow you to make smart choices to help meet your family's nutritional needs.
Food Labels Information
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) require labels on almost all packaged foods that include nutrition information in readable type. The information usually appears on the back or side of packaging under the title "Nutrition Facts." It's also displayed in grocery stores near fresh foods, like fruits, vegetables, and fish.
The nutrition facts label includes:
- a column of information — "% Daily Value" — that shows what portion of the amount of daily recommended nutrients the product provides, based on a 2,000-calorie diet
- information about total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, fiber, and other nutrients
- serving size
Additional information on the food label will include:
- content claims, such as "light" or "low-fat," that must meet strict government definitions so that they are accurate and consistent from one food to another
- health claims, like "While many factors affect heart disease, diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of this disease," which must meet government requirements for approval
- ingredient list
At a glance, it may appear as though everything on the shelves either adds fiber to your diet or reduces fat intake. To make healthy, informed food choices, it's important to understand: food label claims; serving sizes; calorie requirements; percent daily values; and important nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-2009 The Nemours Foundation. All rights reserved.
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