Quiz : How much do you know about nutritional labels

There is more to a food product’s Nutrition Facts label than calories. The calorie count can sometimes help you make smart choices, but there is other important info on there. Take our quiz to find out more:

1. With food labels, start with the serving size.

1. True
2. False

2. If a food has several ingredients, how are they listed on the label?

1. Alphabetically
2. Dominant flavors first
3. By weight, in descending order
4. Natural ingredients first, then additives

3. Avoid all foods that contain additives.

1. True
2. False

4. The total carbohydrate on a nutrition label shows the amount of:

1. Sugar
2. Starch
3. Fiber
4. Sugar Alcohols
5. All of the above

Answers:

1. A. True. For example, a bottle of sweet tea may list 20 grams of sugar, but the serving size may be only half the bottle. Drink the whole thing and that’s actually 40 grams of sugar.  

2. C. By weight, in descending order. This means the first ingredient makes up the largest part of the food.

3. B. False. It is not necessary to eliminate foods with additives. Even food dyes are considered safe—however, they should be consumed sparingly to avoid a potential allergic reaction.

4. E. All of the above.  It’s important to note the total carbohydrate if you are monitoring your carb intake. Foods advertised as low-sugar or sugar-free may still contain carbs. 

Source: The Health Library at www.sjchs.org