Why read labels? To prevent an excess or deficiency of minerals in the body. Do you know when information about the mineral content of a product must be on the label and when not? Remember that the information about them depends on the amount of vitamins contained in the product.
Why is it worth reading labels?
The use of highly processed, easy-to-prepare foods with lower nutritional value may result in insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals. On the other hand, unconscious or uncontrolled introduction of products enriched with these ingredients to the diet may result in their excessive consumption. Therefore, it is recommended to pay special attention to the content of vitamins and minerals in food products.
When is it necessary to provide the amount of vitamins and minerals in the product?
Pursuant to the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) No. 1169/2011 of October 25, 2011, such information may be included on product labels on a voluntary basis. The exceptions are products with a nutrition or he alth claim on their labels, as well as products with added vitamins and minerals - then providing information about the content of these ingredients is obligatory.
The content of vitamins and minerals may be declared when they are present in a significant amount in the product, i.e.
- 15% of the nutrient reference values contained in 100 g or 100 ml in the case of products other than beverages,
- 7.5% of the nutrient reference values contained in 100 ml of beverages,
- 15% of the nutrient reference values per portion if the package contains only a single portion
Information that should be on the label
The content of vitamins and minerals is given numerically per 100 g or 100 ml of the product. In addition to the numerical value, there must be a percentage of the reference intakes per 100 g or 100 ml of the product. Additionally, information on the content of vitamins and minerals may be provided, calculated as:
- quantity of the product intended for a single consumption in accordance withinformation provided on the label,
- one portion, as long as the number of portions in the package is specified,
- product after preparation, provided that the labeling contains detailed instructions for preparation for consumption.
The text is based on the materials of Dr. Anna Wojtasik from the Food and Nutrition Institute.
Food and Nutrition Institute