Nutrition Facts Label
Presented by
Janice Hermann, PhD, RD/LD
OCES Adult and Older Adult Nutrition Specialist
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.
Ingredient List
 All foods must list all ingredients on the label
in descending order or predominance by
weight.
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.
Nutrition Facts
 Total calories
 Total carbohydrate
 Calories from fat
 Dietary fiber
 Total fat
 Sugars
 Saturated fat
 Protein
 Trans fat
 Vitamin A
 Cholesterol
 Vitamin C
 Sodium
 Iron
 Calcium
% Daily Values
 Nutrient amounts per serving are reported
as % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie
diet for:
Total Fat
Saturated Fat
Cholesterol
Sodium
Total Carbohydrate Vitamin A
Dietary Fiber
Vitamin C
Sugar
Calcium
Protein
Iron
 Some provide % Daily Values for both a
2,000 and 2,500 calorie diet.
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
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.
General Nutrient Content Terms
 Healthy
 Less
 Free
 Light or Lite
 Good source of
 Low
 High
 More
 Organic
Nutrient Content Claims
 FDA has nutrient content claim definitions
for:
 Calories
 Fat and Cholesterol
 Sugar
 Fiber
 Sodium
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
Example Structure-Function Claims
 Builds strong bones
 Guards against colds
 Defends your health
 Boosts the immune
 Promotes relaxation
system
 Lifts your spirits
 Supports your health
 Slows aging
 Improves memory