Did You Know?

People look at consumer food labels for many types of information. The Food and Drug Administration requires that nutritional content be disclosed on labels of packaged foods. Many consumers would like to know how to use this information more effectively and easily.

The following abbreviated guide is intended to make it easier for you to use nutrition labels to make quick, informed food choices that contribute to a healthy diet. Follow the list below for an explanation of how to read the label, using the numerical reference in the diagram as a guide:

1. Pay attention to the serving size, including how many servings there are in the food package, and compare it to how much YOU actually eat.

2. Calories provide a measure of how much energy you get from a serving of this food. The label also tells you how many of the calories in one serving come from fat (And the FDA has just mandated that trans fat amounts must be specified as well.)

3. Eating too much fat or too much sodium may increase your risk of certain chronic diseases, like heart disease, some cancers, or high blood pressure. Eating too many calories is linked to overweight and obesity.

4. Eating enough of these nutrients (vitamins and minerals)
can improve your health and help reduce the risk of some
diseases and conditions.

5. The Percent Daily Values or % DVs are based on recommendations for a 2,000 calorie diet.

You many not know how many calories you consume in a day. But you can still use the % DV as a frame of reference, whether or not you eat more or less than 2,000 calories each day. To learn about understanding nutrition facts on food labels in more detail, go to the Food and Drug Administrations website at: www.fda.gov OR type in the following link: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/foodlab.html#see2