The Food and Drug Administration regulates the sale of foods in the U.S., and in 1994 took a stronger role in publicizing their nutritional content. To help consumers make objective comparisons and purchases, the FDA requires disclosure of nutritional content of food products. A standard nutrition-facts format shows you what to expect from a suggested serving in the way of calorie counts, protein, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients.
How Much to Eat
Many people read FDA food labels to help them calculate calories for weight or medical-condition management. Calorie and other nutrient content in the food is based on the suggested serving size, often 1 oz. or 1 cup, as well as the average dietary intake of 2,000 calories per day. So a food serving with 200 calories would represent 10 percent of your total recommended daily allowance of calories. Your body type and weight goals may dictate greater or lesser nutritional intake.
Which Nutrients to Limit
Too much sodium, cholesterol and fat can be unhealthy for anyone in the long term, or for people with medical problems in the short term. Avoid eating too much of a food that lists 20 percent daily value, or DV, of any of these nutrients, and eat more of foods with 5 percent DV or less. The FDA uses these high and low content marks to help you choose meals according to what else you've eaten that day, so you won't exceed 100 percent DV of "risky" sodium, cholesterol and fat.
Nutrients to Monitor
Healthy versus unhealthy daily values of protein, sugar and trans fat haven't been established by the National Academy of Sciences to apply to every individual, so the FDA requires only metric weight disclosure for these nutrients. You may need more or less protein, sugar restriction or trans fat elimination for muscle building, diabetes management or a heart-healthy diet. Therefore, you'll find a food's content of protein, sugar and trans fat listed in grams, which lets you tailor your eating to your dietary goals.
Nutrients to Increase
It can be tough to reach your total DVs for every nutrient every day, so the FDA label has a group of beneficial nutrients to encourage in your diet. You can add up the percent DV of calcium, iron, potassium and other minerals in your daily menus to achieve your totals. Additional nutrients include dietary fiber and vitamins A, B, C, D and E.
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