Essentially, food or nutrition labels are considered potential cost-effective tools that can endorse healthier food choices among consumers. They are mainly useful for the following reasons:
They purpose to inform consumers on the nutrient and calorie content contained in a particular food item. Food labels normally display information on the content of 13 key nutrients namely;
- Calories
- Cholesterol
- Sodium
- Total carbohydrate
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Total sugars and added sugars
- Fat
- Trans fat
- Saturated fat
- Fibre
- Calcium
- Iron
So, when you purchase a food item, you can identify how much of a nutrient listed is in a food. You can also determine the ingredients utilized in the preparation of the food, when you read through the ingredients list. The ingredients are listed in consequent order whereby the first ingredient is the most in quantity, followed by the second up to the last, which is the least in quantity.
They serve as vital tools in determining food choices as they allow consumers to decide which product to select over the other. With the use of nutrition labels, you can decide why you should select one similar product over another. For example, it could be that you aim to limit your sodium intake, as such if there are 2 products i.e. meat, you can choose the meat with less sodium.
They allow consumers to become aware as to how much of a particular nutrient is contained in a food package and as such avoid the inadequate or excessive intake of nutrients. The labels inform of the calorie amount of nutrients aiding consumers to be aware of how much calories of a nutrient are in a food package.
Additionally, using the information on the food label can aid customers with certain conditions to identify which foods to choose or avoid depending on their requirements. For example, a person who needs to manage their cholesterol may need to opt for food products with low fats and cholesterol.
Individuals aiming to manage their weight can also utilize nutrition information on label to achieve their goals. You can assess the calorie content and nutrients contained in a food product, and use this information to manage weight.