Category: Nutrition

There’s a new nutrition facts label for 2020. Here’s how to

In 2020, expect to see some of your favorite foods sport a new nutrition facts label as mandatory changes from the FDA go into effect. Based on updated dietary guidelines and the need for food transparency, the FDA designed new food labels to help consumers make smarter food decisions.

This change is years in the making: The FDA first announced the new rules on May 27, 2016, stating that the changes were to reflect advancements in nutrition science. This food nutrition label change is the first major update since the FDA first instated uniform food labeling in 1994. According to the FDA, these changes are “based on updated scientific information, new nutrition and public health research, more recent dietary recommendations from expert groups and input from the public.”

The new label is also more realistic about what people eat today and what fuels chronic disease. For instance, the added sugar requirement reflects knowledge about sugar and its relationship to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. 

The overall purpose is to help consumers make informed decisions about food that will improve their health and nutrition. 

The new food nutrition label.


FDA

When do these changes go into effect?

Large food

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Read the Label Youth Outreach Materials

Welcome to Read the Label, the “next generation” portfolio of materials based on FDA’s award-winning Spot the Block outreach campaign! Originally launched in 2007, Spot the Block was a comprehensive program from the FDA that evolved into a nationwide grassroots initiative. Through this hands-on campaign — kids, families, and community outreach leaders united with the goal of using the Nutrition Fact label as their everyday tool for making smart and healthful food choices.

Read the Label Youth Outreach materials challenge kids (ages 9 to 13) to look for and use the Nutrition Facts label on food and beverage packages. The materials include fun, easy tips and targeted education to help make label reading a key component through which today’s young people are equipped to achieve a healthy diet. With engaging content, plus hands-on parent information and community outreach, kids and families across the United States can use the label to compare foods today and every day!

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For Kids

Nutrition Facts Label Education for KidsRead the Label includes lots of tips and challenges created especially for you! These printable activities help you learn more about servings, calories, and nutrients. So, get started today. You’ll learn a lot and have fun when you Read

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Are Pickles Gluten Free? Brands and Recipe

Pickles can be a key ingredient in dishes like tuna salad or a side item served alongside a sandwich.

While pickles generally refer to cucumbers fermented with seasoned vinegar, an array of food items — carrots, onions, eggs, and beyond — can be fermented and pickled.

Most pickles are gluten-free, though the fermentation or brining solution will often determine whether or not they are considered a truly gluten-free product.

This article defines which pickles are gluten-free and which to avoid, especially if you have celiac disease.

Common spices, herbs, and aromatics used to season most pickles, such as garlic cloves, dill, and mustard seeds, will typically be gluten-free. That means your focus should be on the brining solution itself.

Pickles can be fermented in an array of mixtures.

Gluten-free pickles are fermented in vinegars made from gluten-free grains or distilled vinegars. These include vinegars from corn, cane sugar, grapes, and apple cider — or, in the case of lacto-fermented pickles, a saltwater brine (1).

Studies show that exposure to trace amounts of gluten (an average of 2.1 mg per exposure) usually yields no discernible symptoms in people with celiac disease, though this could vary from person to person

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50 Percent of Supplements Contain Hidden Animal Byproducts.

Approximately 50 percent of dietary supplements contain animal-derived ingredients, a new report reveals. Authored by international animal protection organization Animal Save Movement and vegan supplement brand Terraseed, and supported by a coalition of animal welfare non-profit organizations, the report reveals that the supplement industry has a major impact on animals, with over 24 billion animals killed for supplements each year. It also points out that there is a lack of transparency in disclosing these animal-derived ingredients. 

Because it can be difficult for the average consumer to decipher where the ingredients in their supplements come from and how they’re made, the report authors aimed to learn more about the supplement industry—an industry worth $55 billion—in an effort to identify major information gaps regarding its impact on our environment and animals. The report categorizes supplements as vitamins, minerals, and botanicals, and notes that there are a high number of common supplement ingredients that are often derived from animal byproducts. Additionally, the authors found that supplement companies generally don’t disclose animal-derived ingredients in supplement products or how those ingredients are sourced.

To create this report, the authors conducted extensive research and partnered with industry experts, animal rights groups, and the US National Institutes

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4 Oatmeals With the Lowest Quality Ingredients, Say

Oatmeal is one of the healthiest breakfasts you can choose to start your day with.

“Oatmeal is packed with good nutrition including fiber and iron,” says Amber Pankonin, MS, RD, registered dietitian and owner of the food blog Stirlist. “Fiber can help keep you fuller longer and help lower cholesterol. Iron is an important mineral for growth and development, so oatmeal makes a great breakfast for people of all ages.”

It’s also great for managing blood sugar and overall gut health.

“Oatmeal contains a soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which research shows to lower blood glucose and cholesterol, giving it protective qualities against heart disease and diabetes,” says registered dietitian Jonathan Valdez, RDN, owner of Genki Nutrition and a spokesperson for the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “Oatmeal also helps with a healthy gut, preventing constipation when paired with adequate fluids, and may decrease your risk for colon cancer.”

However, not all oatmeals are healthy for you, especially when it comes to pre-packaged oatmeal options. But let’s be real—they are convenient, quick, and easy. So if you’re looking to pick a high-quality pre-packaged oatmeal, Pankonin notes that the ingredient list should begin with whole grain rolled

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Visit Local Farmers Markets to Help with Complete Nutrition

Regardless of age, race and ethnicity, or health status, Putnam County residents can benefit from integrating more nutrients into their meals. Following a nutritious diet can help support your health and wellness. The USDA provides resources in conjunction with MyPlate as a nutrition and dietary guideline. MyPlate includes five serving categories: fruit, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy, each with a recommended serving.  Nutritional needs vary, depending on physical fitness, age, and chronic health condition so be sure to consult with a healthcare provider before making changes to your nutritional intake.

To maintain a lifestyle with a nutritious diet, consider limiting foods and drinks that may contain excess sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. Consider subbing sugar with natural sweeteners, such as fruit juices or honey, or artificial sweeteners that do not add any calories to your diet. Trade out oils and fats to cook with nutrient-dense avocados, olives, or peanut butter. Salty foods can be tasty, but a simple swap for foods labeled “low sodium” can satisfy a craving without increasing cardiovascular health risks. Follow this link from the FDA to help understand nutrition labels: www.fda.gov/food/new-nutrition-facts-label/how-understand-and-use-nutrition-facts-label. Understanding how to read food labels can help you and your family cultivate and maintain

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IFT panelist challenges idea consumers read labels

CHICAGO — Consumers for decades have relied on nutrition labeling far less than is generally believed, said Robert Lilienfeld, executive director at Sustainable Packaging Research, Information, and Networking Group, Broomfield, Colo.

In a panel discussion at IFT FIRST, July 11-13 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Mr. Lilienfeld said as few as 5% of consumers read labels and that consumer packaged foods companies should not rely on labeling to communicate messages to consumers.

During the session, titled “What role does labeling play in educating consumers,” panelists spent more time discussing issues such as sustainability than the role labels play in educating consumers. Turning to the question of labels, Mr. Lilienfeld cited data he said was gathered for The Procter & Gamble Co., where he started his career.

He said the food industry in the late 1900s was “scared to death that kind of information would change people’s minds about what foods they buy.”

Data and subsequent consumer behavior demonstrate that the concerns were misplaced.

“We did research that showed 95% of consumers said it was important to have the information, only 5% actually used it,” he said. “It did very little to change how consumers purchased products and what they purchased.”

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Health Canada backs down from nutrition warning labels for

The question many in the industry have is how it got to this point in the first place

Postmedia News

Catherine Lévesque

FILE PHOTO: Ground beef is seen on the shelves of a Sobeys grocery store in Sherwood Park, Alberta on September 23, 2012.
FILE PHOTO: Ground beef is seen on the shelves of a Sobeys grocery store in Sherwood Park, Alberta on September 23, 2012. Photo by Ian Kucerak /Postmedia

The government won’t be warning you that your burgers are unhealthy after all.

Health Canada will be exempting ground meat and poultry from its long-awaited stricter nutrition labelling regulations set to be in place by 2026, after previous consideration in the regulatory framework prompted fierce criticism from meat producers and stakeholders.

Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos said Thursday there were some proposals to distinguish ground meats and whole cuts of meat, but the decision was made to opt for “more clarity” and to avoid “all sorts of confusion” by treating the two types of meat equally.

Department officials, speaking with the media in a technical briefing, added they did not want to give the impression ground meat is

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Prairie Fare: Try the food allergen quiz | Columnists


Julie Garden-Robinson
NDSU Extension

In the past couple weeks, I interacted with individuals who have a nut allergy, lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, soy allergy or milk allergy.

In most cases, I knew about the allergies and intolerance ahead of time. However, in one case I did not. Fortunately, she was an adult well aware of what ingredients to avoid in our taste tests.

For children, detecting food allergies can be challenging and often requires medical testing.

Sometimes allergy symptoms can be fairly mild. People with certain types of allergies may have a rash, itchy mouth or itchy ears, nasal congestion, sneezing or an odd taste in their mouths.

For example, you may think children have an ear infection or cold when they pull on their ears, have a runny nose or sneeze. In some cases, these could be symptoms of mild food allergies.

For others, allergic symptoms can be severe and even life-threatening. An allergic response activates our immune system. Severe symptoms include shortness of breath, swelling of the tongue, chest pain and/or lack of consciousness.

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Anaphylaxis is the worst-case scenario. Signs of anaphylaxis may include a tightening of airways, swollen throat, difficulty breathing, rapid pulse

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New front-of-package nutrition symbol requirement for

The Government of Canada will soon require food manufacturers to add a front-of-package (FOP) nutrition symbol on prepackaged foods that are high in sodium, sugars, and /or saturated fat.[1] The new FOP nutrition symbol requirement is part of food labelling changes intended to help consumers make informed choices about nutrients of concern. The requirement comes into effect on July 20, 2022, although the industry is given until January 1, 2026 to make the required changes. This delay allows the industry to review its processes, improve its recipes and fix its labels.

The FOP nutrition symbol is black and white and includes a magnifying glass to draw consumers’ attention (Examples of the front-of-package nutrition symbol can be found here). The text of the symbol indicates what the packaged food is high in: sodium, sugars, saturated fat or any combination of them. The nutrition symbol also has specific size and location requirements. For example, the symbol is to be located in the upper half of most packaging shapes. Furthermore, if the label is wider than it is tall, it is to be located on the right half of the packaging. The text must be in both English and French, and they

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