Label Able: Label Claims
Reading labels can be tough, especially since they are often misleading and the flashy packaging can be distracting. As consumers we just want to find out what we're putting in our bodies, so it's important to know what the label claims are telling you aside from just the nutritional information. Some food labels make claims such as "low cholesterol" or "low fat," but what does that even mean anyway? Well these claims can only be used if a food meets strict government definitions. Curious what claims on your food labels mean? Just read more.
Here are a few more commonly used claims and what they mean:
| Label Claim | Definition (per standard serving size) |
|---|---|
| Fat-free* or sugar-free | Less than 0.5 gram (g.) of fat or sugar |
| Low fat | 3 g. of fat or less |
| Reduced fat or reduced sugar | At least 25% less fat or sugar |
| Cholesterol free | Less than 2 milligrams (mg.) cholesterol and 2 g. or less of saturated fat |
| Reduced cholesterol | At least 25% less cholesterol and 2 g. or less of saturated fat |
| Calorie free | Less than 5 calories |
| Low calorie | 40 calories or less |
| Light or lite | 1/3 fewer calories or 50% less fat |
