What Items Are Listed on a Food Label?

The United States Food and Drug Administration sets requirements for food label information under the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act. The items found on a food label include the nutrition facts panel, ingredients, potential allergen information and distributor information.

Nutrition Facts Panel

The nutrition facts panel is organized according to portion size, calories, nutrients and recommended percent daily values. The top section indicates the serving size and number of servings per container. Information is provided in either pieces or cups, followed by the number of grams, and differs with each product.

Calories

The number of calories per serving, including how many calories are from fat, is found after serving size information. Calories are energy, and this section indicates how much energy is derived from consuming one serving of the food. Nine fat calories is equal to one fat gram.

Percent Daily Values

The nutritional information is presented in metric units and also as a percent of daily values. Percent daily values are based on public health experts' recommended daily intake of vital nutrients, and is based on a 2,000-calorie diet. A standardized footnote concerning this information is found on every product.

Nutritional Content

Total fat is featured first, followed by a breakdown of the types of fat included in the total fat measurement. This includes saturated fat, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat. Unsaturated fats are the healthiest fats to consume. Cholesterol, sodium and potassium amounts are found next, followed by total carbohydrates, broken into dietary fiber and sugars. Protein information completes this section of the food label.

Vitamins and Minerals

Food labels also contain information concerning the percent daily values of essential vitamins and minerals found in the product. Vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron percents are always included. Breakfast cereals and other nutrient rich foods often feature a more detailed inventory.

Ingredients

Ingredients are listed after nutrition facts. The ingredients are ordered by greatest to least amounts found in product. Potential allergy warnings also will appear there, as well.

Contact Information

The final information found on a food label is the distributor information. This information can be helpful in the event of a recall.