Reading a Nutrition Label
Juan is a 30-year-old office worker who wants to eat healthier. He buys a pack of instant noodles. The nutrition label shows: Serving size 1 pack (60g). Servings per container 1. Calories 300. Total fat 12g (15% DV). Saturated fat 6g (30% DV). Sodium 800mg (33% DV). Total carbohydrates 40g (13% DV). Dietary fiber 2g (8% DV). Sugars 5g. Protein 8g. The label also lists ingredients: wheat flour, palm oil, salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, artificial flavors. Juan's doctor advised him to reduce sodium intake to less than 2,000mg per day and to limit saturated fat to less than 20g per day.
1. Calculate the percentage of Juan's daily sodium and saturated fat limit that one pack of noodles provides. Show your work.
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Sodium: 800mg out of 2000mg limit = (800/2000)×100 = 40%. Saturated fat: 6g out of 20g limit = (6/20)×100 = 30%. So one pack provides 40% of his daily sodium limit and 30% of his daily saturated fat limit.
2. Based on the nutrition label, is this a healthy choice for Juan? Give two reasons with evidence from the label.
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No, it is not a healthy choice for Juan because it is high in sodium and saturated fat. One pack provides 40% of his daily sodium limit and 30% of his saturated fat limit, which is significant for a single food item. Also, it contains artificial flavors and MSG, and is low in fiber (only 2g). A healthier choice would be lower in sodium and saturated fat, and higher in fiber.