Understanding How to Read Nutrition Labels on Packaging

Nutrition information on food packaging can help the public understand the amount of calories and nutrient content they are consuming. However, these benefits can only be obtained if consumers understand how to read nutrition labels correctly. Head of Strategic Marketing at Nutrifood, Susana S.T.P., M.Sc., PD.Eng., says that the nutrition label actually provides an overview of the calories and nutrients in a product. By reading the nutrition label, the public can estimate the amount of energy, fat, sugar, and other nutrients that enter the body. This information is important so that food consumption can be aligned with daily needs and activities. According to Susana, everyone’s caloric needs differ. For example, someone who regularly runs long distances surely requires a higher energy intake than someone who spends most of their time seated at an office. Therefore, understanding nutrition labels can help the public adjust their consumption according to their body’s needs. For example, on a beverage package the stated serving size is 125 millilitres. This means that all the nutrition information listed is calculated based on that amount. However, in some products, one package may consist of more than one serving. This means that if a consumer finishes a package that contains several servings, the total calories and nutrients entering the body must be multiplied by the number of servings. This is often not realised by consumers, so the number of calories consumed ends up larger than expected. ‘On the label you can see total energy, fat, sugar, and various other nutrients,’ Susana said. The nutrition label also usually contains details of various nutrients, such as total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, protein, and sodium or salt. Some of these nutrients indeed have functions for the body, but their consumption should be limited if excessive.