1. Essential Question What is a food label?
How can nutritional facts label help you make healthy choices?
How do I process nutritional labels?

2. The History of Nutritional Labels
Food label is a panel of nutrition information required on all processed foods regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA)
Labels Required
Bread, cereal, canned and frozen food, snacks, desserts, drinks, and etc.
Labels on fresh fruits, vegetables, food served in restaurants, fresh meats, foods sold by vendors, bakery & deli products are voluntary.

3. Nutrition Labeling & Education Act (NLEA) of 1990
Required nutrition labeling for most foods by 1994
– Exceptions: meat, poultry, seafood, bulk foods, deli items
Authorized use of nutrient content claims and FDA
approved health claims.
Purpose:
– to make it easier for consumers to plan healthy diets.
FDA rule on trans fats (2003):
– Required trans fat labeling on January 1, 2006

4. Food Allergen Labeling & Consumer Protection Act of 2006
Requires complete ingredient label information on all major food allergens:
– Milk
– Egg
– Wheat
– Soy
– Peanuts
– Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashew, walnuts)
– Fish (such as bass, cod, flounder)
– Shellfish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp)

5. Food Allergen Labeling & Consumer Protection Act of 2006
Ingredients are listed in terms that are understandable to the average consumer.
– If a product contains casein, a milk derived protein, the product's label must list the term "milk" in addition to the term "casein."

6. What to know about food labels
Nutrition facts
Serving size
Serving per container
Calories listing
Calories from fat
Percent daily value

7. Nutrition facts: title of information panel that is required on most foods.
Serving size: listing of the amount of food that is considered a serving.
Servings per container: listing of the number of servings in the container or package.
Calories listing: listing of the number of calories in one serving of the food.
Calories from fat: listing of the number of calories from fat in one serving of the food.
Percent daily value: portion of the daily amount of a nutrient provided by one serving of food.

8. How to be food label savvy
CHECK THE DATES
“Sell By” is the last date by which the product should be sold (although it can be stored past this date).
“Best If Used By” is the date by which the product should be used to ensure quality.
“Expiration Date” is the date after which the product should not be used.

9. Front Label Nutrient Claims
– “Fat Free”, “Low Fat” “High Fiber” “Sugar Free”
– What do they mean?
Health Claims
– “Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol may
reduce the risk of heart disease”
– Only allowed if supported by scientific evidence.

10. Front Label Food Label Symbols – Several different companies have them
– Overload to consumer: confusing and complicated
Examples
– AHA Heart Check Mark
– Kellogg’s Diabetes Friendly Seal
– PepsiCo Smart Spot
USDA looking for a universal system to make nutrient info on labels simpler.

11. Food Health Claims
Healthy A food product that must be low in fat, low in saturated fat, and have no more than 60 mg of cholesterol per serving
Fat free A product that must have less than .5 g of fat per serving
Low fat A food that must have 3 g of fat or less per serving
Lean A product that must have less than 10 g of fat, 4.5 g of saturated fat, and no more than 95 mg of cholesterol per serving
Light A product that must have one-third the calories or no more than half the fat or sodium of the regular version
Cholesterol free A product that must have less than 0.5 mg of cholesterol and 2 g of fat or less of saturated fat per serving

12. 5 Keys to Understanding the Food Label
1. Front Label 2. Serving Size 3. Nutrient List 4. Percent Daily Value (DV) 5. Ingredient List

13. Nutrition Labels Include: Nutrition information per serving
Percentage of Daily Values based on 2000 calories a day diet
List of ingredients
Presented from highest to lowest content

14. Understanding Food Labels
How to Read a Food Label Video

15. Ticket out the door