Sign In
Kraftfoods.com
Food Labels

NUTRITION FACTS PANEL

To get more specific information on a food or beverage product, check the label's Nutrition Facts Panel. This is a great way to make smarter choices no matter what your nutrition goals are. Here are some tips for understanding Nutrition Facts:

  1. Suggested Serving Size
    The suggested serving size might not be the amount you eat, but it helps you know the calories and nutrients in the portions you choose. So be sure to look at these parts of the panel:
    Serving Size
    Servings Per Container
    Calories
  2. Percent Daily Value
    To help get the most nutrition out of the calories you consume, each day, check the %DVs on the panel.
  3. Fiber, Vitamins and Minerals
    Try to look for foods that are sources (at least 10% DV) of fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, calcium and iron.
  4. Comparison Using Labels
    Use the Nutrition Facts Panel to compare the foods you choose to eat so that you can see what contribution a food makes to your daily dietary intake. Be sure to check the serving size carefully as it can differ from product to product. Compare this to the amount you eat.
NUTRITION FACTS

Ingredients Here are some important things to keep in mind when reading ingredients:

  • Order
    Ingredient statements list ingredients by weight, with the ingredients present in larger amounts listed first, followed by the ones present in lesser amounts.
  • Dietary Concerns
    If you have a food allergy, read the ingredient statement on the actual package label every time you purchase and eat a food.
  • Changes
    Product ingredients can change over time. Remember: the ingredient statement that appears on the package is the most accurate source of information for a product. Ingredient listings that appear in books, websites and other sources might not be up-to-date.

Back to top ^


Calcium—a mineral needed by the body for, among other things, to maintain bone health. Good sources of calcium in foods include dairy products, such as fat free or low fat milk, yogurt, and cheeses.

Calories—on the Nutrition Facts label are the measure (amount) of energy in a serving of food. For example, there are about 110 calories in 1 cup (8 fluid ounces) of orange juice.

Dietary Fiber—the non-digestible carbohydrates found in foods such as whole grain products, fruits, vegetables, and legumes (such as dry beans and peas) that may promote regularity and, as part of a healthy diet, may decrease the risk of some diseases.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005—the Federal government's most recent science-based advice to promote health and reduce risk of chronic diseases through nutrition and physical activity.

DVs (Daily Values)—reference points for intakes determined by public health experts and based on a 2000 Calorie diet. These values are found in the footnote of the Nutrition Facts label and do not change from product to product.

%DVs (Percent Daily Values)—are the percentage of the daily values found in a specific serving of a food and based on the Daily Value recommendations for key nutrients, and for a 2000 calorie diet. %DVs help you determine if a serving of food is high or low in a nutrient. Also, %DVs make it easier to compare the amount of nutrients in a food and know which nutrients contribute a lot or little to your daily recommended allowance.

General Guide to Calories—a general reference for calories in a single serving of food; it is based on a 2000 calorie diet. 40 Calories or less is low, 100 calories is moderate and 400 calories is high.

Healthy Diet—a diet that emphasizes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat milk products; includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; is low in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol*, salt (sodium), and added sugars; and stays within your daily calorie needs for your recommended weight. (Based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005)

Healthy Weight—is a body weight that is appropriate for your height and frame. One tool to help you determine if you are at a healthy weight is the Body Mass Index or BMI. The BMI is a measure of weight for height for adults over 20 years old. To find out if your weight is in the healthy range, use the BMI Calculator at kraftfoods.com.

Household Measure—a measurement of food in terms of cup, tablespoon, teaspoon, piece, slice, fraction (such as "1/4 pizza"), etc.

Low-calorie—a specific nutrient content claim about a food for which the calories are 40 calories or less per serving.

Nutrient—a substance in food that contributes to growth and health; examples are protein and calcium.

Nutrition Facts Label—the part of the food label that gives the serving size, servings per container, calories per serving and information on some nutrients.

Quick Guide to %DV—is a rule of thumb, that is, 5%DV or less is low and 20%DV or more is high. The Quick Guide to %DV helps you determine if a serving of food is high or low in a nutrient and is based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Saturated Fat—a type of fat that may increase your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, which may increase your risk of heart disease. They come primarily from animal products such as meat and dairy products; in general, saturated fats are solid at room temperature. Coconut and palm oil (palm kernel or palm oil) also contain a significant amount of saturated fat.

Serving Size—a standardized amount of a food, such as a cup or an ounce, used in comparing similar foods. Serving sizes are stated on the food label. Serving size on the food label is listed as a common household measure followed by the equivalent metric quantity in parenthesis, for example, "1/2 cup (112 g)."

Servings per Container—is listed on the Nutrition Facts label directly below the serving size. "Servings per container" is the total number of servings in a food package based on the serving size.

Sodium—A component of salt (sodium chloride); excess sodium intake can increase your risk for high blood pressure. A potassium rich diet can counteract some of sodium's effects on blood pressure.

Content adapted from FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Back to top ^

Search by Product Benefit
Low Calorie? Kid Friendly? Reduced Sodium? No problem. Our search tool makes it easy to find Sensible Solution products by nutritional content.
Low / No Calorie
Reduced / No Sugar
Low / No Sodium
Heart Healthy
Low / No Fat
Low / No Saturated Fat
Fiber
Kid Friendly
Protein
Calcium
Whole Grain
Vitamin D
Vitamin C
0 Grams Trans Fat
Food Labels