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Food processors group creates consumer nutrition label guide
Source: Bakingbusiness.com, October 14, 2004
by Josh Sosland
WASHINGTON - The National Food Processors Association has created a guide emphasizing that calories count to give consumers easy-to-understand information on how to effectively use food labels to establish and maintain a balanced dietary lifestyle.
Available on-line and called, "The Food Label and You: Following Food Labels for Healthy Weight Management, the guide also appears at the N.F.P.A.'s website, www.nfpa-food.org. Those wishing to access it at the site should click on "Consumers."
"Consumers need to recognize the importance of both adequate physical activity and diet in attaining a healthy weight and know how to balance their food choices in order to create healthful diets, "said Robert Earl, N.F.P.A. senior director of nutrition policy. "Reading food labels plays a significant role by helping consumers choose foods for healthy weight management, making it easier for them to manage their diets with choices that fit their personal dietary and lifestyle needs."
The guide gives guidance about the various elements of food labels, including serving size, calories, carbohydrates, protein, dietary fiber, fats, cholesterol, vitamins and minerals and more. It also defines nutrient content and health claims found on some food packages.
Various sections break down the Nutrition Facts label by its various components, answering questions about the importance of each nutrient, how specific nutrients appear on the food label and recommended amounts for consumption. Graphs, charts and "fast facts" with important nutrition information provide quick reference.
In addition to consumers, the N.F.P.A. said it intends the guide for use by nutritionists and others who give consumers dietary and nutrition guidance.
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