More Regulated Food Label Terms

Calories

  • Calorie-Free: Less than 5 calories per serving

  • Low-Calorie: 40 calories or less per serving (or per 50g if a small serving)

  • Reduced Calorie: At least 25% fewer calories than the reference food

Sodium

Cholesterol-Free: Less than 2mg cholesterol and 2g or less saturated fat per serving

  • Low Cholesterol: 20mg or less cholesterol and 2g or less saturated fat per serving

  • Reduced Cholesterol: At least 25% less cholesterol than the reference food

Sugar

  • Sugar-Free: Less than 0.5g sugars per serving

  • Reduced Sugar: At least 25% less sugar than the reference food

  • No Added Sugars: No sugar or sugar-containing ingredients added during processing

Protein

  • Good Source of Protein: 10–19% of the Daily Value (DV)

  • High Protein: 20% or more of the DV per serving

Note: To make protein claims, the protein’s quality must also be evaluated.

Organic

  • 100% Organic: Made with 100% certified organic ingredients

  • Organic: At least 95% organic ingredients

  • Made with Organic [Ingredient]: At least 70% organic ingredients

Fat

  • Fat-Free: Less than 0.5g of fat per serving

  • Low-Fat: 3g or less of fat per serving

  • Reduced Fat: At least 25% less fat than the reference food

  • Saturated Fat-Free: Less than 0.5g saturated fat and less than 0.5g trans fat per serving

  • Low Saturated Fat: 1g or less saturated fat per serving and not more than 15% of calories from saturated fat

Fiber

  • High-Fiber: 5g or more fiber per serving

  • Good Source of Fiber: 2.5g to 4.9g fiber per serving

  • More Fiber: At least 10% more fiber than the reference food

Health Claims

Examples include:

  • “May reduce the risk of heart disease” (only allowed if product meets specific nutrient criteria)

  • “Calcium and vitamin D may reduce the risk of osteoporosis”

Other Regulated Terms

  • Light (or Lite):

    • If referring to calories: 1/3 fewer calories than reference food

    • If referring to fat: 50% less fat than reference food

  • Lean: Less than 10g fat, 4.5g saturated fat, and 95mg cholesterol per serving (for meat/poultry)

  • Extra Lean: Less than 5g fat, 2g saturated fat, and 95mg cholesterol per serving (for meat/poultry)

Cholesterol

  • Cholesterol-Free: Less than 2mg cholesterol and 2g or less saturated fat per serving

  • Low Cholesterol: 20mg or less cholesterol and 2g or less saturated fat per serving

  • Reduced Cholesterol: At least 25% less cholesterol than the reference food