nutrition claims confusion · 2016-03-07 · does not mean the animals were not fed antibiotics or...
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Nutrition Claims Confusioni.e. what is the label saying?
Nancy L. Schwartz, RD, LMNT, CDE
12 March 2016
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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Organic Seafood
No USDA program as yet
Such labels refer only to private certification or European standards
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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
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Fair Trade
A non-government label
Fair Trade USA: certifies ethical treatment of agricultural workers but has no health or nutritional meaning
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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
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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
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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
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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
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What questions do you have?
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References
Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, June 2015
Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, February 2016
Environmental Nutrition February 2016