Food labels provide important information about the foods we buy and eat. They help us understand what's in our food, make healthy choices, and monitor nutrient intake. Food labels also allow people to support local food producers, a major objective of the international food labelling standard (codex) set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Most foods and drinks have a Nutrition Facts label that tells you about the calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, sodium, vitamins and minerals in a single serving of the product. The label also includes a list of ingredients, a serving size, and the total number of servings in the package. Serving sizes are standardized to make it easier to compare the nutritional information of different products. Some labels may have dual columns, showing the amount of calories and nutrients in one serving and the amount that would be consumed if an entire container were eaten at once, like a pint of ice cream.

The front of the Nutrition Facts label is the first thing consumers see and within seconds can affect their purchasing decisions. This area is often a battleground between public health advocates and food manufacturers who want to use food art or other visual graphics that promote the perception of healthy eating, but could mislead consumers if they don't read the Nutrition Facts panel for complete information.   food labels