Why Use the Nutrition Facts Label

Proper nutrition is essential at every stage of life. The Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods and beverages is a valuable tool to help people make more informed decisions about the nutritional content of the foods they plan to purchase and eat. 

The Nutrition Facts label clearly identifies:

• Servings Per Container
• Serving Size
• Number of Calories Per Serving
• The percentage of the Daily Value for each nutrient in a serving of the food
• Nutrient content

All of this information is useful in choosing healthier foods and reducing the risk of diet-related chronic disease.

Most people exceed the recommended limits for saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars, so the Nutrition Facts label can help you reduce consumption.

There are other nutrients, such as dietary fiber, vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium, that many people do not consume enough of. Checking the label can help you identify foods high in these nutrients to eat more of.

So next time you’re trying to decide what to eat, check the Nutrition Facts label and take a step toward a long-term healthy lifestyle.