Nutrition Facts Labeling Laws

Frightening Food Facts

 

We have covered cockroach milk and added sugars now let’s jump into my soapbox, food labels.

Stop getting pulled into the health halo and start looking closely at the nutrition facts labels on the back of food products. Why? Because the front of the container LIES all day long!

 

 

“Free” doesn’t mean free when it comes to our food.

Nutrients per Serving	Free	Low	Reduced/Less	Light (Lite)
Calories	Less than 5 calories	40 calories or less	At last 25% fewer calories	At least 1/3 fewer calories
Fat	Less than 0.5 gm fat	3 gm or less fat	At least 25% less fat	At least 50% less fat
Saturated Fat	Less than 0.5 gm saturated fat	1 gm or less saturated fat and no more than 15% of calories from saturated fat	At least 25% less saturated fat	Not used
Cholesterol	Less than 2 mg cholesterol and 2 gm or less saturated fat	20 mg or less cholesterol and 2 gm or less saturated fat	At least 25% less cholesterol and 2 gm or less saturated fat	Not used
Sodium	Less than 5 mg sodium	140 mg or less sodium	At least 25% less sodium	At least 50% less sodium
Sugar	Less than 1.2 gm sugars	Not a legal claim	At least 25% less sugar	Not used

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Photo Source: http://www.pamcookingspray.com/products/original

 

Sources:

https://www.bestfoodfacts.org/deciphering-food-label-clues/

http://www.fda.gov/food/ingredientspackaginglabeling/labelingnutrition/ucm2006860.htm

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/food/newsevents/workshopsmeetingsconferences/ucm403517.pdf

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyEating/SimpleCookingwithHeart/Using-Food-Labels-As-A-Shopping-Guide_UCM_430119_Article.jsp#.WBf9MNUrKpo

http://www.esha.com/labeling-compliance/nutrition-facts-label-industry-resources/

http://www.crisco.com/products/all-vegetable-shortening-17-315