Nutritional Labels
Nutrition information panels provide information on the:
► average amount of energy (in kilojoules or both in kilojoules and kilocalories),
► Protein,
► Fat,
► Saturated Fat,
► Carbohydrate,
► Sugars
► Sodium (a component of salt)
► Number or the name of any additives (e.g. monosodium glutamate = MSG or 621)
in the food, as well as any other claim that requires nutrition information.
For example, if a food had a ‘good source of fibre’ claim then the amount of fibre in the food must be shown in the nutrition information panel.
Some foods don’t require a nutrition information panel:
► a herb or spice, mineral water, tea and coffee (they have no significant nutritional value)
► foods sold unpackaged
► foods made and packaged at the point of sale, e.g. bread made and sold in a local bakery.
However, if a claim is made about any of these foods (for example, ‘good source of calcium’, ‘low fat’) then a nutrition information panel must be provided.
► foods in small packages, i.e. packages with a surface area of less than 100 mm squared (about the size of a larger chewing gum packet) are not required to have a nutrition information panel.
NB: Marketing claims printed on a product are not subject to the same laws around nutitional panels.
What should you look for in a nutrition panel?
Protein: Just under 1 gram per body weight (kgs). At least 1 gram for over 70’s. Weight Trainers and Athletes require around 1.2 and 1.6 grams per body weight (kg). Post exercise window (1 hour) of oppportunity intake aim is 30 grams.
Carbohydrates: Around 60% of your total food intake. Solid fresh foods instead of highly processed foods.
Fats: 20% of total food intake – mostly mono unsaturated and poly unsaturated fats
Salt (Sodium): Keep Low. Less than total 2,300 mgs per day. An effective way to lowering salt intake is to set an upper range of salt content in each product. eg. Soups: aim for less than 300mgs per 100 grams.
https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/health-advice/protein