FOOD LABELING

We have all been fooled by labels on food packages that claimed “2.3 grams of fat” or “reduced-calories”. In a research done by Nutrition Labeling Education, over 30% of the students who were asked to describe their general behavior when purchasing food admitted often buying a food item with a health claim statement on the front label rather than the same item with no health claim. The information suggests that students do not understand how to use food labeling.

In fact, a study examined he impact of Nutrition Facts label on college students at Southeast Missouri State University. It revealed that 70.2% of student looked, at least sometimes, at the Nutrition Label on the package when purchasing a product for the first time. The most frequently used items were total fat, calories and calories from fat. The least used items were iron, dietary fiber and vitamin A. However, Vitamin A plays an important role in vision, where it participates as the metabolite retinal in the visual cycle. Iron is an essential nutrient that carries oxygen and forms part of the oxygen-carrying proteins, hemoglobin in red blood cells and myoglobin in muscle. An iron deficiency results in anemia. Dietary Fiber is needed for normal bowel function. Adequate fiber prevents constipation, diverticular disease of the colon - a condition where small pounches develop in the wall of the colon-, and hemorrhoids. These nutrients should not be omitted from our daily diet.
In the study, 60% of students said that they never or rarely use the information on the Nutrition Facts label to help fit that food into their daily diet. Out of 208 students, 108 reported previous education in reading labels and 100 reported no prior eduction with label reading.

Now that you are aware of the importance of nutrients in our diet, you should pay close attention to food labeling. But if you are like those 100 students that had no prior education with label reading, you might be lost when first faced with a label. Here are some clues on how to use a food label from the U.S Food and Drug Administration:

Now that you know how to read food labels, here are some facts on the nutrients listed on the label from the American Society for Nutritional Sciences for a 2000 calorie diet:

• Trans Fat: Scientific reports link trans fat and saturated fat with raising LDL blood cholesterol level which increase your risk of coronary heart disease. No more than 20 grams per day should be consumed.
• Sugars: Sugars listed on the label include natural sugar as well as those added. There is no specific amount of sugar that is designated as being too much. Sugar should be limited due to its empty calories
• Protein: Dietary protein are needed for synthesis of body proteins in muscle, organs, bone and skin, and for synthesis of enzymes, certain hormones, antibodies and a host of specialized products. 50 grams of protein per day is recommended.
• Calcium: Calcium plays a role in regulating contraction and relaxation of muscles, transmission of nerve impulses and clotting of the blood in our body. 1000mg should be consumed on a daily basis.
• Dietary fiber: 25 grams per day
• Vitamin C: 75mg per day for a woman and 90mg a day for a man.
• Iron: 18mg a day