Food Labels Knowing how to

read them and why its important.

What is on a food label?

Name of food Name and address of manufacturer,

distributor or packager. New amount in weight or volume Ingredients Nutrient content

Serving Size You may be eating good foods each day,

but still are not as healthy as you could be because of the amount of food you eat. The amount of food you eat can be as important to your good health as what you eat.

Serving size is the listing of the amount of food that is considered a serving.

Calories Listed on the label as what is in one

serving of food. Ex)

Percent Daily Value Based on a diet of 2,000 calories.

Food labels list percentages that are based on recommended daily allowances — meaning the amount of nutrients a person should get each day. These numbers tell you the Percent Daily Value (DV) that one serving of this food provides as a percentage of

established standards.

Not Required Food label is not needed on :

Fresh fruits and vegetables, food served in restaurants, food sold by vendors, bakery, deli, and candy products, spices, coffee and tea, fresh meats, and food in very small packages.

Values for vitamins A and C and minerals Calcium and Iron are always required.

Ingredients

Food additives: substances intentionally added to food.

Enriched food: a food in which nutrients lost during processing are added back into food.

Fortified food: a food in which nutrients not usually found in the food are added.

Something Important Even though caffeine is not on our food

labels. It is still a main part of our dietary intake.

Tea leaves, coffee and cocoa beans all contain caffeine. Many people tend to think of coffee, tea, and cola drinks as the main sources of caffeine, but, in fact, caffeine can also be found in chocolate.