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F O R YO U R H E A LT H
Label-mates
New nutrition labels aim to help you make clearer food choices
b y A N A G AS C O N I V E Y
COSTCO
CONNECTION
Fresh, frozen and
prepared foods are
available in Costco
warehouses and
for delivery
through Costco
Grocery online
at Costco.com.
Vitamins, minerals
and other health
supplements are
available in Costco
warehouses and
at Costco.com.
E
asily overlooked amidst everything that occurred in 2020, the
Food and Drug Administration’s
(FDA) Nutrition Facts labels got
an update. Why, and what does that
mean for you?
What’s new
The new Nutrition Facts label must
list total fat, saturated fat, trans fat,
cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate,
dietary fiber, total sugars, added sugars,
protein, and certain vitamins and
minerals. The actual amount and the
percentages of daily values of vitamin D,
calcium, iron and potassium must be
listed (other vitamins and minerals may
be listed voluntarily).
Labels no longer reflect portion sizes
based on what Americans should eat or
drink, but instead on what they actually
consume. For instance, the serving size
for soda went from 8 ounces to 12 ounces
and a serving of yogurt went from
8 ounces to 6 ounces.
Additional changes include:
● Serving sizes and calories printed in
a larger, bold font.
● Dual columns (on some products)
with the nutrition information for a
single serving in one column and for
the entire package in the other column.
● Updated daily values.
● Nutrient information for vitamin D,
potassium and added sugars.
● No more calories from fat (see “The
skinny on fats”).
Why the updates?
The FDA says the point is to promote
awareness, increase usage of nutritional
information and guidelines, and help
consumers make healthier choices by:
● Choosing items that are high in
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