Nutrition Claims Confusioni.e. what is the label saying?

Nancy L. Schwartz, RD, LMNT, CDE

12 March 2016

Calories

Free: < 5 calories per serving

Low: No > 40 calories per serving (120 for meals/main dishes)

Reduced: 25% fewer calories per serving than ordinary such foods

Light (lite): must also be lower in fat, although amount not specified

Total Fat

Free: product cannot contain fats and no > 0.5 g fat per serving

Low: maximum is 3 g in a food serving, no > 30% of calories from fat in meals and main dishes

Reduced: at least 25% less fat than in similar products

Total fat is not as important to limit as is saturated and trans fats

Saturated Fat

Free: product cannot contain fats and no > 0.5 g saturated fat per serving

Low: maximum is 1 g saturated fat in a food serving, no >10% of calories from saturated fat in meals and main dishes

Reduced: at least 25% less saturated fat than in similar products

Trans Fat

Partially hydrogenated oils is primary source of artificial trans fat

At this time, it is ‘generally recognized as safe’

FDA has proposed to NO LONGER consider them safe

Free or zero: up to 0.5 g trans fat per serving

Check the ingredients list for partially hydrogenated oils to be sure

Cholesterol

Free: No >2 mg per serving

Low: No >20 mg per serving

Reduced: 25% less than originally present

Dietary cholesterol is not the main culprit for cholesterol in the blood

Sodium

Free or salt free: < 5 mg sodium per serving

Lower: < 140 mg sodium per serving

Very low: < 35 sodium per serving

Reduced: 25% less than regular such foods

Sugars

Free: < 0.5 g sugar per serving and no ingredient generally considered a sugar: sucrose, corn syrup, honey, high fructose corn syrup, fruit juice concentrates and dextrose

Low: Not defined and may not be used

Reduced: 25% less sugar than originally present

No added sugars (without added sugars): no sugar was added in processing (not the same as sugar-free)

Other allowable: unsweetened

Sugar does not include sugar alcohols often found in sugar-free foods

Lean & Extra Lean

USDA definition for lean: < 10 g total fat, < 4.5 g saturated fat and < 95 mg cholesterol in a 3.5 oz. portion

USDA definition for extra lean: < 5 g total fat, < 2 g saturated fat and < 95 mg cholesterol

The same rules apply for seafood and game meat but are regulated by FDA

Vitamins and Minerals

High or rich in or excellent source of: must contain at least 20% of the Daily Value (DV) of the nutrient being claimed per serving

Good source or contains or provides: must deliver at least 10% of the DV per serving

More, fortified, enriched, added, extra or plus: must contain at least 10% more the nutrient per serving than an ordinary form of the food

This can be used only for vitamins, minerals, protein and dietary fiber

Healthy, Healthful, Healthier, Healthiest

Low in total fat

< 2 g saturated fat per serving

No > 480 mg sodium per serving or 600 mg for meals/main dish

Below the cholesterol level for which other regulations would require disclosure labeling

Contains at least 10% DV per serving for vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, protein or dietary fiber

Gluten-free

Officially defined by FDA in 2013: food contains < 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten

Also, can make ‘gluten-free’ claim if they are inherently gluten free or have been processed to remove gluten below 20 ppm

Gluten-free products are essential for those with celiac disease, but that label does not mean a food is necessarily any healthier

for everyone else

Natural

FDA: “From a food science perspective, it is difficult to define a food product that is ‘natural’ because the food has probably been processed and is no longer the product of the earth. The agency has not objected to the use of the term if the food DOES NOT contain added color, artificial flavors or synthetic substances”

USDA allows meat and poultry to be ‘natural’ if:

minimally processed, contain NO artificial colors or flavors, preservatives or other artificial ingredients.

More on Natural

Does not mean the animals were not fed antibiotics or hormones or guarantee anything about humane agricultural practices

Naturally raised: No growth promoting compounds, antibiotics (except for parasite control) or animal by-products were used or fed

February, 2016: FDA is “asking the public to provide information and comments on the use of this term in the labeling of human food products” 1-888-463-6332

USDA Organic

Tightly regulated agricultural program covers from farm to table: soil and water quality, pest control, livestock practices and rules for food additives

Produce: verifies that irradiation, sewage sludge, synthetic fertilizers, prohibited pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were not used

Livestock: verifies that producers met animal health and welfare standards, did not use antibiotics or growth hormones, used 100% organic feed and provided animals with access to the outdoors

Organic Seafood

No USDA program as yet

Such labels refer only to private certification or European standards

Genetically Modified Foods

Buy organic as the simplest way to make sure your foods are GMO free

Look for Non-GMO Product Verified seal, which is awarded by an independent non-profit organization, not the government

“Non-GMO does not mean a food is necessarily healthier, and there are no proven health risks to consuming GMO food

Fair Trade

A non-government label

Fair Trade USA: certifies ethical treatment of agricultural workers but has no health or nutritional meaning

Animal Welfare Labels

Label Claim Living Conditions Non-therapeuticAntibiotics Prohibited

HormonesProhibited

AnimalBy-productsProhibited

In Feed

Animal WelfareApproved

All animals must be raised on pasture& permitted to engage in natural behaviorsCages, crates prohibited

X X X

Certified HumaneRaised & Handled

Must allow for exercise & freedom of movementCrates, cages, tethers prohibitedAccess to outdoors not required for allanimals, but space and enrichments allowing natural behaviors required

X X X

Animal Welfare Labels

Label Claim Living Conditions Non-therapeuticAntibiotics Prohibited

HormonesProhibited

AnimalBy-productsProhibited

In Feed

Global AnimalPartnership

Rating program of welfare standardlevels from Step 1-5, encouraging ongoing progressBaseline prohibits crates & cages

´X X X

American HumaneCertified

Relatively low standard which has beenthe subject of animal cruelty eposѐsAllows cage confinement of chickens X X

USDA Organic All animals must have outdoor accessRuminant livestock must have at least120 days in pasture, not continuously

X X X

Animal Welfare LabelsLabel Claim Living Conditions Non-therapeutic

Antibiotics Prohibited

HormonesProhibited

AnimalBy-productsProhibited

In Feed

AmericanGrassfed

Applies to ruminants onlyMust be pasture-raised & fed only grassand forage from weaning to slaughterFeedlots prohibited

´X X X

Free RangeFree Roaming

Must demonstrate animals are allowedaccess to outsideDoes not specify frequency, duration orsize of outside access providedProducers must provide affidavits to FDA or USDA

Cage Free on Egg cartons

Hens are never confined to cageHave unlimited access to food & waterwith freedom to roam

Notapplicable

Animal Welfare Labels

Label Claim Living Conditions Non-therapeuticAntibiotics Prohibited

HormonesProhibited

AnimalBy-productsProhibited

In Feed

Grass Fed Livestock consume lifetime diet of grass & forage onlyPasture access during most of growing seasonProducer affidavits required to USDA/FDA

X

No Added HormonesrBGH-Free (lab made bovine growth hormonerBST-Free (lab made bovine somatotrophin

Hormones weren’t used to increase milk production or speed growth in beefRegardless of this label, it is illegal for producers to administer hormones to chickensProducer affidavits required to USDA/FDA

X

What questions do you have?

References

Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, June 2015

Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, February 2016

Environmental Nutrition February 2016