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Deciphering Food Labels The FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires labels on all food products. The labels list the foods nutritional values. Shoppers use these labels to make healthy eating choices. The labels can be found on the side of a box or on the back of a can. The label must include information about fiber, sugar, sodium, calcium, vitamins, iron, protein, saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. Serving sizes and calories can also be found on the can or box. The recommend serving size and the servings in each box or can are also listed. The percent daily value listed is the amount of something a person should get each day. A serving size is what a person needs to eat to get the nutrients listed on the label. For each serving, the label indicates the amount of calories and the calories that come from fat. Some packages contain more than one serving. Sugars, saturated fats and trans fats are unhealthy if you eat too much. Saturated fats are found in butter, cheese, whole milk, and ice cream. Trans fats are found in cookies, fried foods, and snack foods. Foods with a lot of cholesterol and sodium should be eaten in small amounts. Foods that have calcium, protein, and iron are good for you. It is important to read all food labels and decide if it is a healthy food or unhealthy food. To learn more about food labels, visit this site: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/foodlabel/newlabel.html
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