Decoding claims in food labels?
What are those words in labels like low, free, less, zero… ?
Words alerting us on the nutritional value of the food item
High, Rich In or Excellent Source means one serving of the food has 20% or more of the daily recommended value for a given nutrient.
Less, Fewer or Reduced means that the food has at least 25% less of a given nutrient of calories compared to the usual preparation.
Light or Lite means that the food has 1/3 fewer calories than the usual preparation or 50% less of the fat or sodium content.
Low means that the food has an amount of nutrient that would allow frequent consumption without exceeding the daily value.
More or Extra means that the food has at least 10% more of the daily value for a given nutrient compared to the usual preparation.
Organic means that at least 95% of the product’s ingredients have been grown and processed according to USDA regulations defining the use of fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, preservatives, and other chemical ingredients.
What is the healthy food in preparation?
Energy
• Calorie free fewer than 5 kcal per serving.
• Low kcal 40 kcal or less per serving.
• Reduced kcal at least 25% percent fewer kcal per serving than the comparison food.
Carbohydrates: fiber and sugar
• High fiber 5 grams or more fiber per serving.
• Sugar free less than 0.5 gram of sugar per serving
Fat and cholesterol
• Fat free less than 0.5 gram of fat per serving (and no added fat or oil). AKA zero-fat, no-fat, and nonfat.
• Low fat 3 grams or less fat per serving.
• Less fat 25% or less fat than the comparison food.
• Saturated fat free less than 0.5 gram of saturated fat and 0.5 gram of trans fat per serving
• Low saturated fat 1 gram or less saturated fat and less than 0.5 gram of trans fat per serving
• Less saturated fat 25% or less saturated fat and trans fat combined than the comparison food
• Trans fat-free less than 0.5 gram of trans fat and less than 0.5 gram of saturated fat per serving
• Cholesterol-free less than 2 mg cholesterol per serving and 2 grams or less saturated fat and trans fat combined per serving
• Low cholesterol 20 mg or less cholesterol per serving and 2 grams or less saturated fat and trans fat combined per serving.
• Less cholesterol 25% or less cholesterol than the comparison food and 2 grams or less saturated fat and trans fat combined per serving
• Extra lean less than 5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat and trans fat combined, and 95 mg of cholesterol per serving and per 100 grams of meat poultry and seafood.
• Lean less than 10 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat and trans fat combined, and 95 mg of cholesterol per serving and per 100 grams of meat, poultry, and seafood.
Sodium (salt)
• Sodium free and Salt free less than 5 mg of sodium per serving
• Low sodium 140 mg or less per serving
• Very low sodium 35 mg or less per serving
• Reduced sodium at least 25% less sodium than the original product
• Light in sodium at least 50% less sodium than the original product
• Unsalted/No added salt no salt added during processing (NOT SODIUM FREE)