Facebook Pixel

Nutrient Claims – What Do They Really Mean?

 
Rate This

When going grocery shopping and making your food selections, it can be very confusing reading all of the information on the food packages, and in turn trying to make the proper choices. Did you know that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strict guidelines for food manufacturers on how nutrient claims can be used on food labels and packaging? Make sure to bring this information with you when you go food shopping so you have a better understanding of the claims being made.

Some of the most common nutrient claims seen on food packages are as follows:

Calorie free – contains less than five calories per serving.

Fat free / Sugar Free – contains less than 1⁄2 gram of fat or sugar per serving.

Good source of – provides at least 10 percent of the daily value of a particular vitamin or nutrient per serving.

High fiber – contains five or more grams of fiber per serving.

High in – provides 20 percent or more of the daily value of a specified nutrient per serving.

Low calorie – contains less than 40 calories per serving.

Low cholesterol – contains less than 20 mg of cholesterol and two grams or less of saturated fat per serving.

Low sodium – contains less than 140 mg of sodium per serving.

Reduced / Less – contains 25 percent less of the specified nutrient or calories than the regular product.

Corinne is a degreed nutritionist and award-winning writer. Visit her web site at www.thefoodcop.com.

Add a CommentComments

There are no comments yet. Be the first one and get the conversation started!

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

Diet & Nutrition

Get Email Updates

Diet & Nutrition Guide

Have a question? We're here to help. Ask the Community.

ASK

Health Newsletter

Receive the latest and greatest in women's health and wellness from EmpowHER - for free!