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Food Labels - Learn How to Read Nutrition Facts Labels
In order to make healthy decisions when you shop for foods, you need to understand all the information on food labels. Here's how to read a Nutrition Facts Label:


Vitamins and Minerals

The next section of the Nutrition Facts food label shows the vitamin content of the product. The FDA requires that information on calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C all be included on the Nutrition Facts label. Sometimes the food manufacturers will add information about other vitamins like niacin or folic acid if the product contains any significant amounts of those nutrients. Iron and calcium are often deficient in our diets, so it is good to keep track of these numbers.



On our chicken soup Nutrition Facts label, we can see that we get some vitamin A and some iron, but no vitamin C or calcium. That means we will have to get those nutrients, as well as other nutrients, from the rest of our diet. Remember, if you eat the whole thing you have to multiply those percentages by the number of servings you just ate. Now, let's turn to some general information on suggested daily requirements.

Introduction | Serving Information | Calories, Fats, Carbs and Protein | Vitamins and Minerals | Suggested Daily Requirements


More Nutrition and Nutrition Facts Food Label Resources:
Calorie Need and Nutrition Guides
The Food Label
A Food Labeling Guide
Figuring Out Food Labels
Reading Food Labels

Nutrition Facts Label Quiz

Explore Nutrition
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