Nutrition and Labeling
This domain tests the Nutrition Facts panel, serving sizes, ingredient statements, allergen declarations, and claims. Expect questions that require you to calculate a percent Daily Value or decide whether a claim is permitted.
Core rules
- The Nutrition Facts panel lists calories, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, total sugars, added sugars, protein, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium. Serving size is based on the reference amount customarily consumed, not on what the marketer prefers.
- Percent Daily Value is based on a 2,000-calorie diet. For fiber, the Daily Value is 28 grams; for calcium it is 1,300 milligrams; for sodium it is 2,300 milligrams.
- Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. Major allergens must be declared in plain language. Added sugars must be declared separately from total sugars.
- Nutrient content claims have defined thresholds: low fat is 3 grams or less per reference amount and per 50 grams; good source means 10 to 19 percent Daily Value per reference amount; excellent source or high means 20 percent or more.
- Health claims require significant scientific agreement and authorized wording. Structure-function claims describe a role in normal function and require a disclaimer. Natural is not a formally defined claim for most foods.
Worked example
A cereal serving provides 6 grams of fiber and the Daily Value is 28 grams. The percent Daily Value is 6 divided by 28, or about 21 percent. Because 21 percent exceeds 20 percent, the product qualifies as an excellent source or high source of fiber, provided the serving meets the reference amount and the claim format is correct. If the serving were half the reference amount, the claim would need to be based on the reference amount.
Traps that cost marks
Treating trans fat below 0.5 grams as always zero without checking the rounding rules. Using an arbitrary serving size to improve the panel. Confusing percent Daily Value with percent by weight. Assuming natural has a binding regulatory definition.