When you read food label claims, it helps to know what the words really mean. Here are some definitions of common food label claims you might see.
|
If a label says . . .
|
It means . . .
|
|
Calorie free
|
Less than 5 calories per serving
|
|
Low calorie
|
40 calories or less per serving
|
|
Fat free
|
Less than 1/2 g fat per serving
|
|
Low fat
|
3 g or less fat per serving
|
|
No added sugars
|
No sugars or sugar ingredients were added
|
|
Sugar free
|
Less than 1/2 g total sugar per serving
|
|
Reduced
|
At least 25% less of a certain nutrient or calories than the regular product
|
|
Low sodium
|
140 mg or less sodium per serving
|
|
High fiber
|
5 g or more fiber per serving
|
|
High in
|
20% or more of the daily value of a certain nutrient per serving
|
|
Good source of
|
10% to 19% of the daily value of a certain nutrient per serving
|
|
Healthy
|
Contains recommended food groups and limits added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat
|
Good nutrition means more than eating an apple a day. Think in terms of your food choices throughout the entire day, from breakfast to bedtime. All foods can fit into a healthy eating plan.