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Use this guide to the Nutrition Facts label to help understand what you're eating so that you can make healthier choices.
The Nutrition Facts label is required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on most packaged foods and beverages. The Nutrition Facts label provides detailed information about a food's nutrient content, such as the amount of fat, sugar, sodium and fiber it has.
In 2016 the FDA announced changes to the label aimed at helping consumers make more informed choices. Food manufacturers are expected to adopt the changes by 2021. Many have already made the switch. The changes include:
Knowing how to read food labels is especially important if you have health conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and need to follow a special diet. It also makes it easier to compare similar foods to see which is healthier.
The more practice you get reading food labels, the better you can become in using them as a tool to plan your healthy, balanced diet.
To help you decode the new label, each section is explained in the example.
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