Nutrition Facts Label

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Nutrition Facts Label

• Presented by
• Janice Hermann, PhD, RD/LD
• OCES Adult and Older Adult Nutrition Specialist

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Nutrition Facts Label

• The Nutrition Facts Label tells you about the
  nutrients in a food product.
• The Nutrition Facts Label along with the USDA
  Daily Food Plan and Dietary Guidelines are tools
  to help you choose a healthy diet.

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Ingredient List

• All foods must list all ingredients on the label
  in descending order or predominance by weight.

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Serving Size

• The nutrition information on the Nutrition Facts
  Label is for 1 serving.
• The Nutrition Facts Label tells you the serving
  size and the number of servings per container.
• It is important to consider how the serving size
  compare with the actual amount eaten.

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Nutrition Facts

• Total calories
• Calories from fat
• Total fat
• Saturated fat
• Trans fat
• Cholesterol
• Sodium

• Total carbohydrate
• Dietary fiber
• Sugars
• Protein
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Iron
• Calcium

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Daily Values

• Nutrient amounts per serving are reported as
  Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet for
• Total Fat Total Carbohydrate
  Vitamin A
• Saturated Fat Dietary Fiber
  Vitamin C
• Cholesterol Sugar Calcium
• Sodium Protein Iron
• Some provide Daily Values for both a 2,000 and
  2,500 calorie diet.

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Daily Values

• If the amount of a nutrient provided by a serving
  of food is less than 10 of the Daily Value, the
  product can state 0 or not a significant
  source.
• 5 Daily Value low nutrient source
• 10-19 Daily Value good nutrient source
• 20 Daily Value excellent nutrient source

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Nutrient Content Claims

• A word or phrase used on a label to describe the
  level of a nutrient in a serving of food.
• Foods must meet definitions set by FDA.

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General Nutrient Content Terms

• Healthy
• Free
• Good source of
• High

• Less
• Light or Lite
• Low
• More
• Organic

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Nutrient Content Claims

• FDA has nutrient content claim definitions for
• Calories
• Fat and Cholesterol
• Sugar
• Fiber
• Sodium

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Health Claims

• A health claim is a label statement that
  describes the relationship between a nutrient and
  a disease or health-related condition.
• Health claims require manufactures must collect
  scientific evidence and petition FDA for approval
• Before health claims are approved FDA examines
  enough scientific evidence to establish a clear
  link between diet and health.

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Health Claims

• A health claim can be a written statement, a
  third-party reference, a symbol, or a
  description.
• A food has to meet a set strict requirements set
  by the government in order to make a health
  claim.

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FDA Approved Health Claims

• Calcium and osteoporosis
• Sodium and hypertension
• Dietary saturated fat and cholesterol and risk of
  coronary heart disease
• Dietary fat and cancer
• Fiber and cancer

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FDA Approved Health Claims

• Fruits, vegetables and grain products that
  contain fiber and heart disease
• Fruits and vegetables and cancer
• Folate and neural tube defects
• Sugar alcohols and tooth decay
• Soluble fiber from whole oats and psyllium and
  heart disease

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FDA Approved Health Claims

• Soy protein and heart disease
• Whole grains and heart disease and certain
  cancers
• Plant sterol and plant stanol esters and heart
  disease
• Potassium and hypertension and stroke

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Different Types of Claims

• FDA approved health claims still appear on food
  labels, but finding them is more difficult now
  that other categories of claims are allowed based
  on less conclusive evidence such as
  structure-function claims.
• Even with required disclaimers for health and
  grading claims as A, B, C, or D,
  distinguishing A claims from others is
  difficult.

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Structure-Function Claims

• Structure-function claims are statements that
  characterize the relationship between a nutrient
  or substance in a food an its role in the body
• Unlike health claims where manufactures must
  collect scientific evidence and petition FDA for
  approval, structure-function claims can be made
  without FDA approval.
• The only criterion for a structure-function claim
  is it must not mention a disease or symptom.

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Structure-Function Claims

• Structure-function claims can be quite similar to
  A list health claims. Compare the following
• May reduce the risk of heart disease
• Promotes a healthy heart
• 1st FDA list approved health claim
• 2nd unapproved structure-function claim

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Example Structure-Function Claims

• Builds strong bones
• Defends your health
• Promotes relaxation
• Slows aging
• Improves memory

• Guards against colds
• Boosts the immune system
• Lifts your spirits
• Supports your health