A Food Labeling Guide--Appendix A
Food Labeling CFR References
 Nutrient |
Free |
Low |
Reduced/Less |
Comments |
| Synonyms for "Free": "Zero", "No", "Without", "Trivial Source of",
"Negligible Source of", "Dietarily Insignificant Source of" Definitions for "Free" for meals and main dishes are the stated values per labeled serving |
Synonyms for "Low": "Little", ("Few" for Calories), "Contains a Small Amount of", "Low Source of" | Synonyms for "Reduced/Less": "Lower" ("Fewer" for Calories) "Modified" may be used in statement of identity Definitions for meals and main dishes are same as for individual foods on a per 100 g basis |
For "Free", "Very Low", or "Low", must indicate if food meets a definition without benefit of special processing, alteration, formulation or reformulation; e.g., "broccoli, a fat-free food" or "celery, a low calorie food" |
Nutrient |
Free |
Low |
Reduced/Less |
Comments |
| Calories 21 CFR 101.60(b) |
Less than 5 cal per reference amount and per labeled serving
Not defined for meals or main dishes |
40 cal or less per reference amount (and per 50 g if reference
amount is small) Meals and main dishes: 120 cal or less per 100 g |
At least 25% fewer calories per reference amount than an appropriate
reference food Reference food may not be "Low Calorie" Uses term "Fewer" rather than "Less" |
"Light" or "Lite": if 50% or more of the calories are from fat, fat
must be reduced by at least 50% per reference amount. If less than 50%
of calories are from fat, fat must be reduced at least 50% or calories
reduced at least 1/3 per reference amount "Light" or "Lite" meal or main dish product meets definition for "Low Calorie" or "Low Fat" meal and is labeled to indicate which definition is met For dietary supplements: Calorie claims can only be made when the reference product is greater than 40 calories per serving |
Nutrient |
Free |
Low |
Reduced/Less |
Comments |
| Total Fat 21 CFR 101.62(b) |
Less than 0.5 g per reference amount and per labeled serving (or
for meals and main dishes, less than 0.5 g per labeled serving)
No ingredient that is fat or understood to contain fat, except noted below. (*) |
3 g or less per reference amount (and per 50 g if reference amount
is small) Meals and main dishes: 3 g or less per 100 g and not more than 30% of calories from fat |
At least 25% less fat per reference amount than an
appropriate reference food Reference food may not be "Low Fat" |
"__% Fat Free": OK if meets the requirements for "Low Fat" 100% Fat Free: food must be "Fat Free" "Light"--see above For dietary supplements: calorie claims cannot be made for products that are 40 calories or less per serving |
Nutrient |
Free |
Low |
Reduced/Less |
Comments |
| Saturated Fat 21 CFR 101.62(c) |
Less than 0.5 g saturated fat and less than 0.5 g trans fatty acids
per reference amount and per labeled serving (or for meals and main
dishes, less than 0.5 g saturated fat and less than 0.5 g trans fatty acids per labeled serving) No ingredient that is understood to contain saturated fat except as noted below(*) |
1 g or less per reference amount and 15% or less of calories from
saturated fat Meals and main dishes: 1 g or less per 100 g and less than 10% of calories from saturated fat |
At least 25% less saturated fat per reference amount than an
appropriate reference food Reference food may not be "Low Saturated Fat" |
Next to all saturated fat claims, must declare the amount of
cholesterol if 2 mg or more per reference amount; and the amount of total
fat if more than 3 g per reference amount (or 0.5 g or more of total fat
for "Saturated Fat Free") For dietary supplements: saturated fat claims cannot be made for products that are 40 calories or less per serving |
Nutrient |
Free |
Low |
Reduced/Less |
Comments |
| Cholesterol 21 CFR 101.62(d) |
Less than 2 mg per reference amount and per labeled serving (or for
meals and main dishes, less than 2 mg per labeled serving) No ingredient that contains cholesterol except as noted below(*) If less than 2 mg per reference amount by special processing and total fat exceeds 13 g per reference amount and labeled serving, the amount of cholesterol must be "Substantially Less" (25%) than in a reference food with significant market share (5% of market) |
20 mg or less per reference amount (and per 50 g of food if
reference amount is small) If qualifies by special processing and total fat exceeds 13 g per reference and labeled serving, the amount of cholesterol must be "Substantially Less" (25%) than in a reference food with significant market share (5% of market) Meals and main dishes: 20 mg or less per 100 g |
At least 25% less cholesterol per reference amount than an
appropriate reference food Reference food may not be "Low Cholesterol" |
Cholesterol claims only allowed when food contains 2 g or less
saturated fat per reference amount; or for meals and main dish
products--per labeled serving size for "Free" claims or per 100 g for
"Low" and "Reduced/Less" claims Must declare the amount of total fat next to cholesterol claim when fat exceeds 13 g per reference amount and labeled serving (or per 50 g of food if reference amount is small), or when the fat exceeds 19.5 g per labeled serving for main dishes or 26 g for meal products For dietary supplements: cholesterol claims cannot be made for products that are 40 calories or less per serving |
Nutrient |
Free |
Low |
Reduced/Less |
Comments |
| Sodium 21 CFR 101.61 |
Less than 5 mg per reference amount and per labeled serving (or for
meals and main dishes, less than 5 mg per labeled serving No ingredient that is sodium chloride or generally understood to contain sodium except as noted below(*) |
140 mg or less per reference amount (and per 50 g if reference
amount is small) Meals and main dishes: 140 mg or less per 100g |
At least 25% less sodium per reference amount than an appropriate
reference food Reference food may not be "Low Sodium" |
"Light" (for sodium reduced products): if food is "Low Calorie" and
"Low Fat" and sodium is reduced by at least 50% "Light in Sodium": if sodium is reduced by at least 50% per reference amount. Entire term "Light in Sodium" must be used in same type, size, color & prominence. Light in Sodium for meals = "Low in Sodium" "Very Low Sodium": 35 mg or less per reference amount (and per 50 g if reference amount is small). For meals and main dishes: 35 mg or less per 100 g "Salt Free" must meet criterion for "Sodium Free" "No Salt Added" and "Unsalted" must conditions of use and must declare "This is Not A Sodium Free Food" on information panel if food is not "Sodium Free" "Lightly Salted": 50% less sodium than normally added to reference food and if not "Low Sodium", so labeled on information panel |
Nutrient |
Free |
Low |
Reduced/Less |
Comments |
| Sugars 21 CFR 101.60(c) |
"Sugar Free": Less than 0.5 g sugars per reference amount and per
labeled serving (or for meals and main dishes, less than 0.5 g per
labeled serving) No ingredient that is a sugar or generally understood to contain sugars except as noted below(*) Disclose calorie profile (e.g., "Low Calorie") |
Not Defined. No basis for recommended intake | At least 25% less sugars per reference amount than an appropriate
reference food May not use this claim on dietary supplements of vitamins and minerals |
"No Added Sugars" and "Without Added Sugars" are allowed if no sugar
or sugar containing ingredient is added during processing. State if food
is not "Low" or "Reduced Calorie" The terms "Unsweetened" and "No Added Sweeteners" remain as factual statements Claims about reducing dental caries are implied health claims Does not include sugar alcohols |
Notes: * Except if the ingredient listed in the ingredient statement has an asterisk that refers to footnote (e.g., "* adds a trivial amount of fat").
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Chapter VI: Questions 1 - 25 Appendix B Relative (or Comparative) Claims Appendix C Health Claims
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