Food and Nutrition Service

Using the Nutrition Facts Label in the 

Child and Adult Care Food Program

The Nutrition Facts label tells you the amount of different nutrients 

in a food. Reading the label can help you choose the best foods to 

serve the children and adults in your care. 

You can find a Nutrition Facts label on a food’s packaging. 

Some foods, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish, may not 

have Nutrition Facts labels.

What’s on the Nutrition Facts Label?

There is an original and a new version of the Nutrition Facts label. You may see either version on food 

packages, although eventually you will only see the new label. 

Original Label

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 2/3 cup (55g)

Calories 230

% Daily Value*

Trans Fat 0g

Saturated Fat 1g

Sugars 12g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 160mg

Total Carbohydrate 37g

Protein 3g

10%

Calcium

45%

12%

Amount Per Serving

Dietary Fiber 4g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. 

 Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on 

your calorie needs. 

Iron

Servings Per Container About 8

Calories from Fat 72

Total Fat 8g

5%

0%

7%

12%

16%

Vitamin A

Vitamin C 8%

20%

 Calories: 2,000 2,500

Total Fat Less than 65g 80g

Sat Fat Less than 20g 25g

Cholesterol Less than 300mg 300mg

Sodium Less than 2,400mg 2,400mg

Total Carbohydrate 300g 375g

Dietary Fiber 25g 30g

10%

5%

0%

7%

13%

14%

10%

20%

45%

6%

20%

160mg

8g

Nutrition Facts 

Calories 230 Amount per serving

Total Fat 

Saturated Fat 1g

 Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 

Total Carbohydrate 37g

Dietary Fiber 4g

Total Sugars 12g 

Includes 10g Added Sugars 

Protein 3g

Vitamin D 2mcg

Calcium 260mg

Iron 8mg

Potassium 235mg 

% Daily Value*

The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in 

a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories 

a day is used for general nutrition advice.

8 servings per container

Serving size 2/3 cup (55g)

*

New!

Both versions of 

labels tell you the total 

servings of the food 

in one package. They 

also give information 

on the type and 

amount of calories and 

nutrients for just one 

serving of the food.

More training, menu planning, and nutrition education materials for the 

CACFP can be found at https://teamnutrition.usda.gov.

Original Label

Calories: 

Less than 

Less than 

Less than 

Less than 
What the Nutrition Facts Label Tells You

5%

3%

5%

10%

20%

0%

8%

0%

105mg

1.5g

Nutrition Facts 

Calories 90 Amount per serving

Total Fat 

Saturated Fat 1g

 Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol 10mg

Sodium 

Total Carbohydrate 11g

Dietary Fiber 0g

Total Sugars 9g

Includes 0g Added Sugars 

Protein 7g

Vitamin D 2mcg 

Calcium 257mg

Iron 0mg

Potassium 344mg 

% Daily Value*

The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in 

a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories 

a day is used for general nutrition advice.

5 servings per container

Serving size 3/4 cup (170g)

2%

0%

*

4%

Servings Per Container shows the total 

number of servings in the entire food package 

or container. One package of food may 

contain more than one serving.

Serving Size is based on the amount of food 

that is usually eaten at one time. It is not always 

the same amount of food that is required to 

meet CACFP meal pattern requirements across 

the age groups. CACFP operators may use 

the serving size information on the Nutrition 

Facts label as a reference when using charts to 

determine if yogurts or cereals meet program 

sugar limits. They may also use serving size 

information in determining amounts of a 

food (such as a grain) needed to meet meal 

pattern requirements.

Saturated Fat, Trans Fat, Sodium, and 

Added Sugars provide important information 

for CACFP menu planners and food 

purchasers. Most adults and children eat and 

drink too many of these nutrients. Choosing 

foods that are lower in these nutrients can help 

program operators offer healthier meals that 

support good health. When comparing nutrients 

in foods, check the serving sizes to make sure 

you are comparing similar amounts of food. 

Total Sugars shows the amount of sugars 

in a food. It includes both naturally occurring 

sugars in foods as well as added sugars. The 

CACFP sugar limits for cereal and yogurt are 

based on total sugars:

• Yogurt must contain 23 grams of total sugars 

or less per 6 ounces of yogurt.

• Breakfast cereal must contain 6 grams of total 

sugars or less per dry ounce of cereal.

Iron is a nutrient that supports growth 

and brain development. CACFP 

operators may use this information 

about iron when checking to see that an 

infant formula is fortified.

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Spotlight on Serving Sizes

The amount of food in one serving, known as the serving size, may be listed by: 

Weight

Calories 

Serving size

1 serving per container 

Total Fat 2g 

Saturated Fat 0g

 Trans Fat 0g 

Cholesterol 10mg 

Sodium 90mg 

Total Carbohydrate 23g 

Dietary Fiber 0g 

Total Sugars 16g 

Includes 4g Added Sugars 

Protein 8g 

3%

0%

3%

4%

8%

0%

8%

The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in

a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories

a day is used for general nutrition advice. 

* 

6 oz (170g)

Amount per serving 140 

% Daily Value* 

Nutrition Facts 6 oz

(170g)

Such as grams (g) 

or ounces (oz) 

Volume

Calories 

Serving size

About 15 servings per container 

Total Fat 0.5g 

Saturated Fat 0g

 Trans Fat 0g 

Cholesterol 0mg 

Sodium 140mg 

Total Carbohydrate 22g 

Dietary Fiber 3g 

Total Sugars 5g 

Includes 4g Added Sugars 

Protein 2g 

1%

0%

0%

6%

7%

11%

8%

The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in

a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories

a day is used for general nutrition advice. 

* 

3/4 cup (30g)

Amount per serving 100

% Daily Value* 

Nutrition Facts3/4 cup

Such as cups 

or tablespoons 

Number of items

Calories 

Serving size

About 4 servings per container 

Total Fat 4.5g

Saturated Fat 2g

 Trans Fat 0g 

Cholesterol 0mg 

Sodium 280mg

Total Carbohydrate 23g

Dietary Fiber 1g 

Total Sugars 1g 

Includes 1g Added Sugars 

Protein 2g 

7%

10% 

0%

12% 

8%

4%

2%

The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in

a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories

a day is used for general nutrition advice. 

* 

30g (8 crackers)

Amount per serving 140

% Daily Value* 

Nutrition Facts 8 

crackers

Such as 

“8 crackers”

Remember that if you serve more of a food 

than the serving size listed, the amount of 

calories and nutrients served also increases.

For example, a 1-cup serving of this cereal 

contains 100 calories and 7 grams of total 

sugars. If you serve 2 cups of this cereal, the 

2-cup serving contains 200 calories and 

14 grams of total sugars.

1-cup serving

100 calories and 

7 grams of total sugars

2-cup serving

200 calories and 

14 grams of total sugars

Some Nutrition Facts labels will show the 

calories and nutrients in one serving of a 

food as well as in the entire package. 

For example, one serving of this 

yogurt contains 80 calories and 

11 grams of total sugars. If you 

serve the entire container of yogurt, 

the container contains 160 calories 

and 22 grams of total sugars.

Left column 

shows the 

nutrients 

per serving

0g

0g

0g

5mg 

110mg 

13g 

0g

11g 

0g

8g

0%

0%

2%

5%

5%

0%

0%

0%

0%

4%

10% 

10% 

0%

0%

0g

0g

0g

10mg

220mg 

26g 

0g

22g

0g

16g 

Total Fat

 Saturated Fat 

Trans Fat 

Cholesterol 

Sodium 

Total Carb.

 Dietary Fiber

 Total Sugars

 Incl.Added Sugars 

Protein 

% DV* % DV* 

0mcg 

300mg 

0mg 

370mg 

0mcg 

600mg 

0mg 

740mg 

0% 

25% 

0% 

8% 

0% 

50% 

0% 

16% 

Vitamin D 

Calcium 

Iron 

Potassium 

The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of

food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general 

nutrition advice. 

* 

Calories 80 160 Per serving Per container

Nutrition Facts 

2 servings per container

Serving size 3⁄4 cup (170g) 

Right column 

shows the 

nutrients for the 

entire container

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Try It Out!

Use the information on this worksheet to answer the questions.

Yummy Brand Cereal

1 How many servings of cereal are in this container? _____

2 What is the serving size of this cereal? _____ 

3 How many grams of total sugars are in one 

serving of this cereal? _____ 

4 How many grams of added sugars are in one 

serving of this cereal? _____ 

Nutrition Facts

Calories 150 

Total Fat 1.5g 

Saturated Fat 0g

Trans Fat 0g 

Cholesterol 0mg 

Sodium 200mg 

Total Carbohydrate 34g 

Dietary Fiber 5g 

 Total Sugars 7g

Includes 3g Added Sugars 

2%

0%

0%

9%

13% 

17% 

7%

Potassium 160mg 

Vitamin A 90mcg 

Vitamin C 9mg 

Thiamin 0.3mg 

Riboflavin 0.3mg 

Niacin 4mg 

Vitamin B6 0.4mg 

Folate 200mcg DFE

(120mcg folic acid) 

Vitamin B12 0.6mcg 

Phosphorus 100mg 

Magnesium 25mg 

Zinc 3mg 

Choline 60mg 

4% 

10% 

10% 

25% 

25% 

25% 

25% 

50% 

25% 

8% 

6% 

25% 

10% 

% Daily Value* 

Serving size 

12 servings per container 

Amount per serving 

The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in

a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories

a day is used for general nutrition advice. 

* 

1 cup (43g)

Happy Day Yogurt

1 How many servings of yogurt are in this container? _____

2 What is the serving size of this yogurt? _____

3 How many grams of total sugars are in one 

serving of this yogurt? _____

4 How many grams of total sugars are in one container 

of this yogurt? _____

5 How many grams of added sugars are in one serving 

of this yogurt? _____

6 How many grams of added sugars are in one container of this yogurt? _____

1.5g

1g

0g

10mg

105mg 

11g 

0g

9g 

0g

2%

5%

3%

5%

4%

0%

0%

4% 

10% 

6%

10% 

8%

0%

0%

3g

2g

0g

20mg

210mg 

22g 

0g

18g

0g

Total Fat

 Saturated Fat 

Trans Fat 

Cholesterol 

Sodium 

Total Carb.

 Dietary Fiber

 Total Sugars

 Incl.Added Sugars 

% DV* % DV* 

Calories 90 180 Per serving Per container

Nutrition Facts 

2 servings per container

Serving size 3⁄4 cup (170g) 

Yummy Brand Cereal Answers

Servings Per Container: 12 1. 

Serving Size: 1 cup (43 grams) 2. 

Grams of Total Sugars per Serving: 7 3. 

Grams of Added Sugars per Serving: 3 4. 

Happy Day Yogurt Answers

 Servings Per Container: 2 1. 

 Serving Size: 3⁄4 cup (170 grams) 2. 

 Grams of Total Sugars per Serving: 9 3. 

 Grams of Total Sugars per Container: 18 4. 

 Grams of Added Sugars per Serving: 0 5. 

 Grams of Added Sugars per Container: 0 6. 

FNS-857 March 2020 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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