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Food Labeling: Reading the Labels

Confused by misleading advertising and inconsistent labels? These pages will clear up the confusion and help you to buy healthier, fresher food! The Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act and the US FDA give specific labeling requirements for most prepared foods, such as breads, cereals, canned and frozen foods, snacks, desserts, drinks, etc. Nutrition labeling for raw produce (fruits and vegetables) and fish is voluntary. Those products are referred to as "conventional" foods. For detailed information on dietary supplements, a special category of products that comes under the general umbrella of foods, but which has separate labeling requirements, see "dietary supplements."*

* Terms such as "functional foods" or "nutraceuticals" are widely used in the marketplace. Such foods are regulated by FDA under the authority of the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, even though they are not specifically defined by law.

General Consumer/Nutrition Information

• How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label November 2004
• Quiz Yourself! Test Your Food Label Knowledge! February 2002
• Information for Consumers: Trans Fat Now Listed With Saturated Fat and Cholesterol on the Nutrition Facts Label (also available in Spanish) March 3, 2004
• Revealing Trans Fats September-October 2003 FDA Consumer article on changes to the Nutrition Facts Panel
• The Power of Choice: Helping Youth Make Healthy Eating and Fitness Decisions September 2003
• Dietary Guidelines for Americans - 2005
  • Consumer Brochure: Finding Your Way to a Healthier You: Based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (available in PDF)
• Information on Nutrition and Dietary Guildelines (calcium, fiber, fats, soy and more)
• Nutrition Information on Restaurant Menus July 1996
• Today's Special: Nutrition Information May-June 1997 FDA Consumer article on restaurant menus
• Protecting Yourself from Health Fraud (Selected food and health fraud information)
• Focus on Food Labeling (Special Issue of FDA Consumer) May 1993

Food/Nutrition Surveys and Research

• Overview and Methodology of FDA Food Label and Package Survey (FLAPS), 2000-2001
• Consumer Research on Nutrition (Abstracts of FDA consumer research studies)