Essential Learning About Nutrition Labelling

It is believed that up to ⅕ OF THE POPULATION HAS FOOD ALLERGIES, intolerances or hypersensitiveness to certain ingredients. Some of the common food allergies, such as a peanut allergy can be extremely serious. This is why it is essential to be able to study the labels on packaged and processed food. Understanding standard nutrition labelling is also important if you are going to have a balanced diet. For students that are taking the Food Preparation and Nutrition GCSE or a BSc in Food Sciences, being able to analyse nutrition labelling is essential to pass the course, and HAVING SOME EXTRA tutoring on this subject can help.

Counting calories

All packaged and processed food should be labelled with certain mandatory information. The energy value of the food should be declared. This is useful if you are following a calorie-controlled diet, or trying to stick to a recommended daily intake. When you are studying food sciences you will need to learn about how calories are actually calculated. Calories are a unit of energy, they do not relate to the density or weight of an item of food. The calories in food come from three different macronutrients - protein, carbohydrates and fat. Each one of these macronutrients affects the body in a different way. This is why eating a 500 calorie burger has a different effect on the body than EATING 500 CALORIES OF FRESH VEGETABLES.

Learning about macronutrients

The amount of macronutrients in food is also shown in the mandatory information that is included on nutrition labels. Fat, protein and carbohydrate measurements are listed in grammes. It is important to understand that NET CARBS AND TOTAL CARBS ARE DIFFERENT. The total carbs includes fibre, sugar and sugar alcohols. This information is extremely important if you are following a keto diet. The fats that are shown on a nutrition label include trans fat and saturated fat. Trans fat is COMMONLY FOUND IN FRIED FOODS and many types of fast food. Saturated fat is found in butter and cheese. It is important to limit the fats in your diet, or you may become susceptible to heart disease and blocked arteries.

Other nutritional information

Food labels may also include information about the levels of fibre and starch in food, as well as the amount of vitamins and minerals that the food provides. In the U.K. potassium, calcium, iron and Vitamin D are the only micronutrients that are required to be on food labels. A nutrition label may also show what percentage of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) the micronutrients are providing. Some foods, IN PARTICULAR BREAKFAST CEREALS, are fortified with extra vitamins and minerals, to help children get a balanced diet.

Learning about the information that is included on processed and packaged food is essential if you are studying nutrition and food sciences. It is also extremely important if you have food allergies or intolerances.