Food labels part 3: Nutrient counting and calorie math. In Part 3 of this article series, we look at back-of-package labeling: nutritional information and ingredients. In particular, we look at how calorie counts don’t accurately reflect how our bodies...
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Food labels part 3: Nutrient counting and calorie math. In Part 3 of this article series, we look at back-of-package labeling: nutritional information and ingredients. In particular, we look at how calorie counts don’t accurately reflect how our bodies process food. And we challenge the classic “calorie math” of “energy in versus energy out”. Problems with back-of-package labeling In Part 2 of this series, we looked at “front-of-package” (FOP) labeling. Generally, FOP labeling can be a little more dodgy – manufacturers can use tricky language, suggestive images, or claims from various organizations to make you think certain foods are better than others. Although back-of-package labeling, or nutritional information/ingredients, is more tightly regulated by law, it has its own challenges. Problem: People often find standards confusing. What is an RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) and how does it relate to a DV (Daily Value)? A DI (Dietary Intake)? A General Dietary Allowance (GDA)? If we
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