The Marketing of Food Products (front of product) vs. Information on the "Nutrition Facts" Panel

The Nutrition Facts label has been designed to be a key to locating and evaluating the nutritional content of foods and beverages. The Nutrition Facts panel is intended to provide consumers with useful information that helps avoid nutritional excesses such as fat, saturated fat, trans fats, cholesterol and sodium (salt). The percentages listed under % Daily Value (or % DV) are one way to measure nutrients in food or drink. If you need to limit a nutrient in your food plan, chose foods that are low in that % Daily Value. If you need to get more of a nutrient, choose foods that are high in that % Daily Value.

As a guide:
*5% DV or less means a food low in that nutrient
*20% DV or more means the food is high in that nutrient

Be sure to read both the front of the front of the package and the Nutrition Fact Panel.
Below are some examples, please look closely at the Comment Section
• Nutrient = total fat
• Claim on front of package=0 grams trans fat
• Nutrition Fact Panel=Provides 16-40% daily value (DV) of total fat depending on serving size.
• Even though there is no “trans fat” in the product, it is still a source of high fat.

Excerpted from “Evolution of Family Health including 20 commonly asked questions Food, Nutrition & Health Questions.”
Available: www.cnesinc.org