Interpreting Nutritional Information


The Nutrition Facts table on a food product label gives information on the amount of core nutrients in an amount of food.

The Nutrition Facts table and the % Daily Value on products can help you compare and choose suitable food products.  Reading the ingredients can help you make better food choices.

Purpose of the Nutrition Facts table

  • Choose products more easily
  • Compare two products to make better food choices for you and your family
  • Learn about the nutrition information of the foods you eat
  • Better manage special diets
  • Increase or decrease your intake of any nutrient

Where is the Nutrition Facts table?

Almost all pre-packaged foods have Nutrition Facts tables.  These are in a uniform required format.  Because the tables look similar on most food packages, they are easy to find and easy to read.

Not all foods must have a Nutrition Facts table, such as the foods listed below:

  • Fresh vegetables and fruits
  • Raw meat and poultry (except when ground)
  • Raw fish and seafood
  • Foods prepared or processed at the store (bakery items, salads, etc.)
  • Foods that contain very few nutrients such as coffee, tea, herbs, and spices
  • Alcoholic beverages

% Daily Value

The % Daily Value (% DV) can help you make good food choices.  It provides an overview of the nutrients in a food.  Look for this in the Nutrition Facts table on food packages.

You can use the % DV to choose products that are higher in the nutrients you want more of and lower in the nutrients you want less of in your diet. 

Nutrients you may want more of:

  • Fibre
  • Vitamin A
  • Calcium
  • Iron
Nutrients you may want less of:

  • Fat
  • Saturated and trans fats
  • Sodium

View

Click the link below to view further information and detail on the details on a nutrition facts table and how to use it. 

www.healthycanadians.gc.ca