What are United States of America Food and Drug Administration requirements regarding Nutrient Content Claims?

A - Nutrient content claims are those claims that describe the amount of a nutrient in the food (such as "sodium free" or "low fat"). These claims may not be made unless they are defined by United States of America Food and Drug Administration in regulations. While customers need not be concerned with the exact definition for each claim, those who want more detailed information need only look to the nutrition label on the side or back of the package.

General provisions for the use of nutrient content claims have been established in 21 CFR 101.13. Specific regulations have been issued that define the use of the terms "good source," "high," and "more" (21 CFR 101.54) and the terms "light" or "lite" (21 CFR 101.56). Separate regulations also cover the use of nutrient content claims for caloric content (21 CFR 101.60); sodium content (21 CFR 101.61); and fat, fatty acid, and cholesterol content (21 CFR 101.62). Various synonyms have also been established for the basic terms. Persons considering using nutrient content claims on the label or labeling of their products should refer to the above regulations for details on the requirements.

Food Labeling and Nutritional Information