The label offers complete, useful and accurate nutrition information. They encourage food manufacturers to improve the quality of their products and help the consumer make healthier food choices. They provide a consistent format to help you directly compare the nutritional content of various foods. Similar food products have similar serving sizes to make comparison between products easier. These numbers will help consumers make decisions about fat intake.
Food companies can voluntarily list other vitamins and minerals in the food.
When vitamins or minerals are added or when a vitamin or mineral claim is made, those nutrients must be listed on the nutrition label. The amounts of vitamins and minerals are listed as a Percent Daily Value on the nutrition label. The Percent Daily Value for vitamins and minerals gives a general idea of how much of a vitamin or mineral a serving contributes to the total daily diet. The Daily Values section shows how a food fits into the overall daily diet. The value of the nutrient is given in percentages.