Part of the Food and Drug Administration's role is to educate the public about issues relating to the foods you eat every day and the medications you use to treat various conditions. The FDA now plays a large role in educating Americans about healthy eating and nutrition.
History
In 1990, the U.S. government created the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, which required all food manufacturers to clearly print a nutrition label on the packaging of the food you buy in the grocery store. The act also standardized manufacturer's claims of "low-fat" or "low calories," requiring foods to fall within certain parameters in order to be able to make those claims. In 2003, the act was amended to include trans fats on all nutrition labels.
Daily Calorie Recommendations
The FDA dietary guidelines are based on standard 2,000- and 2,500-calorie diets. Your individual calorie needs may vary based on your age, height, weight and average level of physical activity on a daily basis. The calorie guidelines are meant to act as a general reference to help guide your dietary decisions every day.
Nutrients to Limit
The FDA guidelines also include information on how much you should get -- and what you should limit yourself to -- of certain essential nutrients. Corresponding percentages are listed on food labels next to each nutrient based on these recommendations. These percentages are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. The FDA recommends limiting your total fat intake to 65 g, saturated fat to 20 g, cholesterol to 300 mg and sodium to 2,400 mg. The FDA also recommends getting at least 300 g of carbohydrates per day, 25 g of which should come from dietary fiber.
Understanding the Food Label
The food label can be confusing if you're not familiar with it. The first thing listed is the serving size. Standardized measurements -- in cups, oz., g or by pieces -- are used to make it easier for you to measure out a standard serving. The rest of the information on the label is based on that serving size. Total calories for the serving size are listed next, followed by total fat -- which is then broken down by different types of fat -- and cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates -- including fiber and sugars -- and finally protein. The percentage next to each nutrient indicates what percent of that nutrient you're getting toward the recommended daily value. For example, if you are eating a packaged cookie and the total fat for one cookie is 6 g, the percentage listed next to the cookie would be 9 percent.
Considerations
Serving size plays a big role in using the FDA's diet guidelines in your daily life. You may think a food is low in fat, calories or sugar, but consider the serving size before making your decision. The serving size you portion out for yourself may not necessarily match up with what is listed on the box. To keep the best track of your daily nutrients, measure out your servings according to the food label.
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