The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires food manufacturers to display a nutrition label on each item. These labels tell the buyer the percentage of each nutrition value including vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins and fats. The labels are used by consumers to evaluate the composition of each food item and assists them in choosing healthier foods.
Features
The nutrition labels feature each type of nutrient contained in the packaging. The percentages shown are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. The first part of the label also contains the total calories in each serving. In addition to these calories, the amount of fat calories are shown. Fat calories contain the most amount of energy for the body, but fats should be limited, which is why the labels alert the consumer. Each nutrient is displayed with its corresponding amount in grams.
Types
The types of nutrients displayed are proteins, carbohydrates and fats. These three biomolecules are the essential parts of a healthy diet. Nutrition labels can be used to control the amount of each of these biomolecules. For instance, if the consumer chooses to cut the amount of carbohydrates in the diet, he can plan meals by reading the nutrition labels. Vitamins are also necessary in the diet. Vitamins are displayed under the nutrient information.
Footnotes
The nutrition labels have footnotes to help consumers determine how much of each nutrient is recommended. For instance, sodium is a required mineral in the diet, but too much can lead to bloating, water retention and weight gain. The footnotes tell the consumer how much sodium should be consumed daily, as well as other vitamins and minerals. The list of vitamins and minerals includes "less than" and "at least" in the label. "Less than" means that the nutritional amount indicated is the upper limit, and consumers should eat no more than the gram amount listed. "At least" means the consumer should have at least the amount listed.
Identification
The USDA nutritional labels are found on any packaged food. The consumer can identify the label by looking for a white box with black text. The nutritional label is usually displayed on the side of the packaged food. Manufacturers of frozen meals or foods in a bag normally have the label displayed on the back of the package.
Considerations
When reading nutrition labels, take note of the serving size. The serving size can be more than one, so when the consumer takes the values into consideration, they must be multiplied by the servings. For instance, a can of soup is normally two servings. Many people will eat the whole can as one serving, so the nutritional intake indicated on the label is doubled.
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