Nutrition Labeling Regulations

Food labeling has come a long way. It's surprising but it wasn't until 1990 that the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act required all packaged foods to include nutritional information. Required categories of nutritional labeling regulations include the ingredients list, serving size, nutrition facts, and daily value standards of nutrients. Additionally, if the product wishes to make claims about nutrients and healthfulness, they must substantiate them in some way. Nutritional information for non-packaged food like produce or fresh meats is often found on a nearby sign or in a brochure. (http://www.fda.gov/aboutfda/whatwedo/history/milestones/ucm128305.htm, http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/Inspections/InspectionGuides/ucm074948.htm, & p.53)

All
This allows for product comparison since you can compare nutritional information across different brands, products, and formulas. Strangely, the serving sizes on food labels is not always consistent with USDA Food Guide serving sizes. (p.
(p. 57)

If a brand wishes to promote the inclusion of (or lack of) certain nutrients, vitamins, etc. in the product, they may use unqualified Grade A phrases in which there is significant scientific agreement (ie. "diets adequate in folate may reduce a woman's risk of having a child with neural tube defect") or qualified Grade B, C, or D statements that reference the supportive, limited or very small amount of evidence supporting it. (pp. 57-58)

The unfortunate loophole to health claims are structure-function claims which can be the most confusing to consumers as it's hard to differentiate. Structure-function claims describe a relationship between the existence of a particular nutrient in the product and benefit such as "builds strong bones" without having to show proof - as long as it doesn't mention a disease. (p.