Judith E. Brown Prof. Albia Dugger Miami-Dade College Understanding Food and Nutrition Labels Unit 4

Nutrition Labeling 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act passed by Congress 1993 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published rules for nutrition labeling

Key Elements of Labeling Standards “Nutrition Facts Panel” Nutrient claims Health claims Structure/function claims Qualified health claims

Nutrition Facts Panel Foods containing more than one ingredient must display a Nutrition Facts Panel Specific information is required

Nutrition Facts Panel Additional information on specific nutrients may be added on a voluntary basis

Daily Values (DVs) % Daily Value (%DV) Scientifically agreed-upon standards of daily intake of nutrients from the diet developed for use on nutrition labels Represent percentages of standards (RDAs) obtained from one serving of the food product Based on 2,000 calorie daily intake (60% carbohydrate, 30% fat, 10% protein)

Nutrient Content Nutrition claims on packages must conform to FDA standard definitions Example: Low fat: ≤ 3 g fat/serving Lean: < 10 g fat, 4.5 g saturated and trans fat, and 95 mg cholesterol/serving

Claims Not Approved by FDA

Health Claims Foods with scientifically agreed-upon benefits for disease prevention can be labeled with a health claim The FDA approves health claims for food products that are not high in fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, or sodium

Labeling Foods Enriched or Fortified Enrichment Replacement of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, iron, and folate lost when grains are refined All refined grain products must be enriched Fortification Addition of one or more vitamins and/or minerals Any food can be fortified

The Ingredient Label

Key Terms Food additives Substances added to food that become part of the food or affect the characteristics of the food Applies to substances added intentionally or unintentionally

Food Additives on the Label More than 3,000 chemical additives Enhance flavor, texture, color, cooking properties, shelf life, nutrient content Specific information about food additives must be listed on the label GRAS list additives can be used without preapproval New additives must be approved by FDA

Food Additives on the Label

Unintentional Additives Trace amounts of unintentional additives do not appear on food labels Pesticides, hormones, antibiotics Fragments of packaging materials Small fragments of bone Insects

Irradiated Foods Irradiation kills insects, bacteria, mold, and other microorganisms Does not make food radioactive

Nutrient Content Claims

Dietary Supplement Labeling Dietary supplement Any product intended to supplement the diet Includes vitamins, minerals, proteins, enzymes, herbs, hormones, and organ tissues Does not undergo testing or have FDA approval

Dietary Supplement Labeling Must be labeled “Dietary Supplement” “Supplement Facts“ panel with serving size and essential nutrients May use nutrient and health claims

Dietary Supplement Labeling Structure/function claims Describes the effect a supplement may have on body structure or function Can’t claim to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease

The COOL Rule A country of origin label must appear on some products Helps track down foodborne illnesses

Organic Foods If organic growers are certified according to USDA rules, they can place the USDA Organic seal on their labels

Labeling Organic Foods Organically grown and produced foods can be labeled in four ways: “100% Organic” “Organic” (95% organic) “Made with organic ingredients” (70% organic) “Some organic ingredients” (< 70% organic)

Nutrition Labeling Transition Industry labels supplement the Nutrition Facts Label for the food product Not regulated publicly Criteria vary Appear only on selected products

Beyond Nutrition Labels Nutrition labels will never provide all the information needed to make wise decisions about food People must be well informed about nutrition Making the right food choices MyPyramid Food Guide