In this post, we will define what a nutrition label is. When you go to a supermarket or shopping centre to purchase food items, you may notice that various food packages contain various information on them. When you look more keenly at a particular food package, you will identify a select portion of it titled as either Nutrition facts, Nutrition Information, Nutrition Facts Panel or Nutritional Values -this is what is known as a nutrition label.
Depending on food item or manufacturer, the title on the nutrition label could vary i.e., Nutrition facts, Nutrition Information, Nutrition Facts Panel although they all have the same inference-nutrition label. Occasionally, the terms food label and nutrition label can be used interchangeably, although a food label is broader and may include storage instructions, date of expiry, manufacturers instructions etc.
Generally, a nutrition label constitutes 13 key nutrients, an ingredients list and health and nutrition claims.
The 13 key nutrients include:
- Calories
- Cholesterol
- Sodium
- Total carbohydrate
- Fibre
- Calcium
- Iron
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Total sugars and added sugars
- Fat
- Trans fat
- Saturated fat
The ingredients list-This contains the list of ingredients used in preparing the food product. Usually, ingredients are listed as per quantity used with the first ingredient being the highest in amount, and with the last ingredient being the least in amount.
Health and nutrition claims-This is information on food products that indicates the health benefits of a food product i.e. low cholesterol, low sodium etc.