Food Labels provide nutritional information for all packaged foods, providing consumers with the ability to compare and contrast the nutritional value of they foods they are eating. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the content of food labels and has established uniform standards for food labels. These labels are intended to serve as a tool to assist consumers in making informed choices about the foods they are buying and eating. http://www.fda.gov/Food/default.htm

Currently food label standards are mandated by the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act which went into effect in 1990. All packaged foods are required to have labels and the label must state the amount of the serving size and number of servings per container. In addition the label must include calories, including calories from fat, amount of cholesterol, sodium, and total carbohydrates broken down into dietary fiber and sugars, as well as total protein. In the bottom portion of the label, vitamins and minerals are listed with a chart indicating amounts of the various nutrients that should be consumed based upon an individual's total daily caloric intake. Below the nutritional information all the ingredients of the product are listed in order of the percentage contained within the packaged food item.http://www.healthchecksystems.com/label.htm

Reading the food label provides information to the consumer about the nutritional content of the food based upon serving size. This can be especially helpful for individuals who are trying to lose weight and individuals who have health problems that are effected by nutritional intake, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. It is important to understand and notice the serving size that is listed on each food label. Serving sizes may not always be the amount that a consumer is expecting, so it is important to pay close attention to the number and how it has been determined (e.g., ounces, number of pieces, etc). When determining the amount of calories, carbohydrates, and fat that will be consumed when eating a packaged food item, it is necessary to multiple the amounts listed by the number of servings shown on the label. The nutritional contents are listed with milligrams, and a percent daily value on each label. This gives the consumer a quick way to estimate the nutritional value of one food as compared to another. http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm079449.htm