Understanding food and nutrition labeling: key to purchasing in foodservice operations

摘要

The food label, commonly referred to as the food fact label has become a very important tool for nutrition information which is helpful in many ways to foodservice managers. Regulations from the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture require the food label to offer useful and accurate nutrient information. The purpose of the food label is to inform consumers about the nutrition information and to help them in choosing healthful diets as well as offer an incentive to food companies to improve the nutritional qualities of products. It is equally important for the foodservice managers to understand these labels. The new requirements and explanations as given by the above mentioned governmental agencies are stated in the following paragraphs.