Calories
and US Food Labels
U.S.
food labeling regulations (1994) permit a number of labels claims indicating
a reduction in fat, calories or both.
Label
Claims About Calories
Calorie-Free
Means less than 5 calories per serving.
Low-Calorie
Means 40 or less calories per serving.
Reduced
or Fewer Calories
Means 25 percent or less calories per serving than regular food product.
Label
Claims About Calories and Fat
Light
Means 33 percent fewer calories or half the fat of the reference food.
(If the food derives 50 percent or more of its calories from fat, the
fat must be reduced by 50 percent.)
Label
Claims About Fat
Fat-Free
Means less than 0.5g fat per serving.
Low-Fat
Means 3g or less fat per serving.
Reduced
or Less Fat
Means 25 percent or less fat per serving than regular (full fat) product.
Percent
Fat Free
Based on 100g, when the food product meets the definition of low fat or
is 100 percent fat free, claim can be made when a product meets the definition
of fat free and contains no added fat.
Meat,
Poultry and Seafood Label Claims About Fat
Lean
Means less than 10g fat, 4.5g or less saturated fat and less than 95mg
cholesterol per serving and per 100g.
Extra
Lean
Means less than 5g fat, less than 2g saturated fat and less than 95 mg
cholesterol per serving and per 100g.
For
calorie details of 2500 Foods, see Calories
in Foods |
