FOOD LABELS

 

Getting a gift is always exciting but in order to find out what is inside the gift box you have to unwrap it as there are usually no clues to figuring out the content. Shopping for groceries isn't the same as getting gifts not just because you get to pay for all you decide to buy but also because there are food labels present on the packaged food or products.

What Are Food Labels?

 Food labels are usually found on packaged foods and products and they show  you information about the nutrients and ingredients of the food you are about to purchase. The importance of food labels is to help you make healthy food choices.

Some of the Steps to making healthy food choices includes checking the; 

1. Serving size on the food labels so you can know the amounts of calories you consume in one gram serving .

2. Percent Daily value(PDV): this helps you find foods low in nutrients you want to avoid and also those high in nutrients you want to get 5% or less is low while 20% or more is high.

3.Total fat: This helps you to know if the food is either high or low in fat.

4.Saturated and Trans fats; these fats are written separately but both included under total fat and they should both be avoided.

 5.Sodium: High sodium food increases the risk of you getting high blood pressure.

6.Fruits and vegetables contain dietary fibres that helps with weight control and reduces the risk of heart related diseases.

7. Sugar : there are sugars you consume either  naturally in fruits or artificially in foods, drinks and syrups. Added sugars should be avoided.

The content of Food Labels are:

1 .The Name of the product which is usually represented by the brand name and a picture.

2.The Manufacturer's name and address: this makes it possible to file complaints against the products purchased.

3.Product Date: the expiration date, best by, sell by and the packaging date are shown in the open date while the closed date shows the manufacturer's shelf life .

4. Net content: The weight of the  food and the drinks are also shown on the food labels and it is usually in grams.

5. The Ingredient List: gives you information on what the food or drink is made from.

Other contents of food labels are; health claims, nutrient fact label and protein content.

So the next time you go shopping you spending 1-2mins of your time to read the food label on the product you're about to purchase is enough for you to start making healthy food choices by being informed and aware and also being able to control what you eat .

 Thanks for reading!

Article by: 

Olamide Oladejo

Food, Nutrients & Health