Transcript Reading Food Labels

Reading Food
Labels
Food Label
⦿A
food label is a panel of
nutrition information in all
processed foods regulated
by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)
Nutritional Facts
⦿The
title of each food label
will always say “Nutrition
Facts”
What is a calorie?
● unit of energy: a unit of energy,
originally defined as the quantity of
heat required to raise the temperature
of 1 g of pure water by 1º C.
Food Label Requirements
Food labels are required on everything
except: fresh fruits and vegetables,
food in restaurants, food sold by
vendors, bakery, deli, and candy
products, spices, fresh coffee and
tea, and fresh meats.
Fruits and Vegetables do not require
food labels.
Ingredients
⦿Ingredients
(what the food
is made up of) must be
listed on the food label.
Ingredients will go in order
from the main ingredient, to
the least used ingredient.
What is the main ingredient?
Listing “Trans Fat”
⦿ While
some foods may claim to have 0g
of Trans Fat, you must read the food
label to learn the truth. Trans Fat will be
listed as “partially hydrogenated oils”
⦿ Companies can claim 0g Trans fat when
the amount is below .5g
Percent Daily Value*
⦿ Percent
Daily Values are listed as
percentages on food labels, based on
a diet of 2,000 calories
Calories
⦿A
person receives calories from
protein, carbohydrates, and fats
Calories per Gram
⦿ 1g Protein= 4 calories
⦿ 1g Carbohydrates= 4 calories
⦿ 1g Fats= 9 calories
Food Additives
⦿ Food
additives are substances
added to food
⦿ Additives may add nutrients, flavor,
texture, or color
⦿ Many additives improve taste and
appearance, also prevent spoilage
⦿ There are over 300 different
additives that can be used
Organic Foods
⦿ Organic
foods are foods that do not
use additives
⦿ They are more “natural” and closer
to the type of foods your
grandparents ate as kids
Check Dates
⦿ Always
be sure to check the
dates, if listed, so see if the
food has gone bad
⦿ Never use a product after its
“expiration date”, try to use it
by its “best if used by date”,
and never buy a product after
its “sell by” date
Health Tips
⦿Always
look at serving size
⦿Try to eat under 70 grams of
sugar a day