Mar 5, 2013

Fun Facts on Food Labels!


March is National Nutrition Month! and this month’s Fun Facts on Food Labels will help prevent consumer confusion by teaching readers what the nutrient content claims on packages represent and how they are defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For more information on National Nutrition Month, please visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Food Label Says…One serving of chosen food contains…
Calorie freeLess than 5 calories
Sugar freeLess than 0.5 grams of sugar
Fat freeLess than 0.5 grams of fat
Low fat3 grams of fat or less
Reduced fat or less fatAt least 25 percent less fat than regular product
Low in saturated fat1 gram of saturated fat or less, with not more than 15 percent of the calories coming from saturated fat
LeanLess than 10 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat and 95 milligrams of cholesterol
Extra leanLess than 5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat and 95 milligrams of cholesterol
Light (lite)At least one-third fewer calories or no more than half the fat of the regular product, or no more than half the sodium of the regular product
Cholesterol freeLess than 2 milligrams of cholesterol and 2 grams (or less) of saturated fat
Low cholesterol20 or fewer milligrams of cholesterol and 2 grams or less of saturated fat
Reduced cholesterolAt least 25 percent less cholesterol than the regular product and 2 grams or less of saturated fat
Sodium free or no sodiumLess than 5 milligrams of sodium and no sodium chloride in ingredients
Very low sodium35 milligrams or less of sodium
Low sodium140 milligrams or less of sodium
Reduced or less sodiumAt least 25 percent less sodium than the regular product
High fiber5 grams or more of fiber
Good source of fiber2.5 to 4.9 grams of fiber
Reference:
American Heart Association. (September 1, 2010). Reading Food Nutrition Labels. Retrieved on February 5, 2013, from 
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HeartSmartShopping/Readi
ng-Food-Nutrition-Labels_UCM_300132_Article.jsp

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