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Nutrition labels provide standardized information about the nutritional content of most foods found on supermarket shelves. These labels are printed on the packaging of foods. Consumers can use this information to help craft a diet that is healthy and nutritious.

For years, people had relatively little information about the nutrition content of many foods available for sale. However, in 1990 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) passed a law called the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA). It required that most types of packaged food carry nutritional information on food labels and that all nutrient content claims (e.g., high fiber, low fat) and health claims be consistent with agency regulations.

Important nutritional information on food labels is found in the nutrition facts panel, which lists the amount of nutrients and calories found in a single serving of a food. Shoppers can use these labels to learn about the amount of protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients present per serving. People can use this information to help determine how the food fits into a well-balanced diet.

Food labels also must include a listing of ingredients whenever more than one ingredient is present in the food. These are listed in order of their prominence in the food (by weight), with the ingredients used in the largest amounts listed first. This information also can help people choose foods that are more nutritious. For example, a canned fruit with ingredients listed as “peaches, water” is likely to be healthier than a canned fruit with ingredients listed as “sugar, peaches, water.”

Other information present on food labels includes:

• Common name of the primary food. This includes identifiers such as “rice” or “mixed vegetables.”
  
  
• Measurement of the amount of food in the package. The weight is shown as net weight in both standard English and metric weights.
  
  
• Information about the manufacturer or distributor of the item.
  
  
• Description of the food. This includes descriptive phrases such as “pineapple slices” or “pineapple chunks.” If certain nutritional requirements of a processed food do not compare with its traditional form, words such as “imitation” or “substitute” may appear.
  
  
• Percentage of natural juice in fruit or vegetable juice beverages. Juices made from concentrate must state this fact, and beverages that are less than 100 percent juice must be called juice drinks, beverages or cocktails. The names of the fruits or vegetables in mixed juices appear on the ingredients list in descending order (from greatest to lowest quantity by weight).
  
  
• Health claims and nutrient content claims. Health claims establish a relationship between a food and disease or medical condition. For example, they may state that consuming a certain product may lower the risk of certain types of cancer. Nutrient content claims are written messages on the food label that quickly inform a consumer of the level of nutrients contained in a product. Examples of these messages are “low-fat food” or “fat-free.”

Certain foods that should be included in a balanced diet may not have a nutrition facts panel on them. These include fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry and meat. However, many supermarkets and other food sellers have begun to provide nutrition labels for these items on a voluntary basis. Meat and poultry products are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and are not covered by NLEA. However, the 45 most popular cuts of meat also have a similar voluntary labeling program under the USDA’s program.

Other items not covered by the NLEA include:

• Restaurant food, except foods that make a nutrition content or health claim
  
  
• Airplane food
  
  
• Hospital food
  
  
• Food service vendors (including food vending machines)
  
  
• Ready-to-eat/prepared food such as deli and bakery items
  
  
• Plain coffee and tea
  
  
• Some spices, food coloring and flavor extracts
  
  
• Food shipped in bulk, as long as it is not for sale in that form to consumers
  
  
• Medical foods, such as those used to address the nutritional needs of patients with certain diseases

Foods sold in small packaging (e.g., about the size of a pack of gum) are also exempt from the NLEA label requirement, as long as no nutrition claim has been made about the food. However, a telephone number must be included on such packaging so that people who have questions can have them answered promptly.