Understanding Nutrition Facts Labels
The information on the nutrition facts panel are a useful way to understand exactly what each food that is purchased contains, in order to make better food choices.
There is no universal nutrition facts panel - there are a variety of nutrition labels which are provided by food manufacturers, although in Australia, there is a minimum requirement for the nutrition facts that need to be displayed on each food. These are:
- serving size
- energy
- values of nutrients (including percentage of daily values)
Some nutrition facts panels also contain extra information, such as levels of certain vitamins and minerals - this is not a requirement.
Other countries have their own set of rules about what is the minimum requirement for the nutrition facts panel that must be displayed on foods. A similar labelling requirement is regulated in other countries, such as the USA and European nations.
Enjoy better health!
