In this month’s Nutrition Education article, SMAA Meals on Wheels Dietician, Elizabeth Varga, shares a “Quick Guide to Common Nutrition Terms on Food Packaging”
When thinking about food and nutrition labels, the nutrition facts label on the back of packaging may come to mind. However, there are many different front-of-package labels that can impact our decision to consume certain foods too. Food companies will display graphics with nutrition claims such as “low in saturated fat” or allergen information such as “contains gluten.” Sometimes these claims can be misleading to consumers since they do not show the full picture. It is always recommended to read the full label, including the back, if you are concerned about certain ingredients. Here is a quick guide to some of those front-of-packaging labels you may see.
Allergy Information
Per labeling requirements, the FDA expects the major allergens to be displayed on the label. This includes milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. These need to be clear on the label with their common names. You can also see statements like “may contain__” or “prepared in a facility that uses__.” As for gluten, companies can pay for a special seal, but all the FDA requires is it to be clear and not misleading. If the packaging says “gluten-free” or “without gluten” it must contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten.
Nutrient Content Claims
These statements provide the consumer insight on nutrients in the food beyond what the nutrition facts label states. Oftentimes, it’s intended to show health benefit but can be misleading as it’s not the only nutrient of concern. A bag of chips may state “cholesterol free” but that doesn’t describe salt content. It’s used to grab the consumer’s attention. Terms like “low sodium,” “high fiber,” “reduced fat,” and “good source of __” are regulated by the FDA based on certain requirements. However, the FDA currently does not have regulations on the terms, “natural” or “multigrain.” Keep in mind that the nutrition facts label will have all the ingredients listed in order by weight.
Health Claims
These claims have to be reviewed and approved by the FDA based on scientific evidence. Claims such as “can help lower cholesterol” are part of the 12 approved claims relating to calcium and osteoporosis, sodium and hypertension, grains containing fiber, folic acid and neural tube defects, to mention a few. Remember, these suggest that consuming this food can help reduce the risk of developing a disease, but that can be based on one nutrient only. For example, breakfast cereal high in fiber can help with heart disease, but it may also be high in added sugar.
Sell-by, Use-by, Best-by Dates
These specific dates on food packaging are there for both the seller and buyer to indicate when the food is of the best quality. Most of the time food can be consumed after these dates safely, however the freshness can deteriorate. The exact amount of time depends on the product. Determining what date goes on packaging can depend on a number of factors including packaging, characteristics of the product, and the temperature at which it’s held. Product dates are not required by law; however, some states may have regulations. The only required product that must be dated is infant formula.
Sell-by-date: The last date the seller or store should display said product. This is mainly for inventory purposes but does make sure the product is of the best quality.
Use-by-date: The last date recommended to use the product based on when it will be the freshest. This is especially important for foods like milk, eggs, fresh meat, and prepared salads. The quality can deteriorate quickly after this date.
Best-by-date: The last date the product will be of the best quality and freshness.
For more detailed information, check out the USDA and FDA websites.
