Food labels contain information that help you know more about the foods you buy. They include information on the ingredients, the nutritional content, additives and expiration dates. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, food labeling is required for most prepared foods, such as cereals, breads, canned foods, frozen foods, snack foods, desserts, drinks, etc. Learn how to read food labels to better understand which ingredients are most abundant.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has guidelines that all food producers must follow in labeling their food to protect and provide better health choices for the consumer. The 2009 Guide has information about what must be included on labels, as well as warnings about making unsupported health claims. Some food items are required to have "safe handling guidelines" to advise customers about avoiding germs and bacteria. There are rules for specific products such as beer, eggs, milk, white chocolate and soy lecithin. If a food has been irradiated, it must be included on the label.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires other labels on packaged foods and beverages. The boxed nutrition facts label shows the amounts of nutrients such as fat, sodium and fiber. This helps customers choose foods that meet their dietary intake, if they need to avoid high fats, sodium or sugar content. Calorie content is included in the nutrition label based on the printed serving size. Whole grain products often contain a label that confirms that they are made of the whole grain kernel. The front label will show the name of the product and the amount in the container. Manufacturers must follow all the guidelines.
When you read food labels for ingredients, be sure to read all of the items listed. It is important to understand that the first ingredient is the one that is the most abundant. This is helpful if you are trying to avoid a diet high in sugars. If the first item listed on the label is sucrose, corn syrup or some other sugar, then you know that the food has more sugar than all of the other ingredients. Many boxed cereals give you the impression of being healthy, but have a sugar listed as the first ingredient. When looking for whole grains, be sure to check the label to see what is listed first. A loaf of bread can be sold as wheat bread and the label might list white refined flour first, and whole wheat flour second. Labeling helps you choose your foods wisely.
Article reviewed by DonaldM Last updated on: May 30, 2012
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