Do you usually read what is in nutritional table of the food you consume? This should be a habit for everyone. After all, we cannot purchase a food product without knowing what is going into our body.
It was with this in mind that the nutritional table was developed. We will go more in-depth about it in this content, and the other topics covered are:
- Nutritional table: what is the importance and main information
- Front Nutritional Labeling
Without further ado, let’s get to the content.
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Nutritional table: what is the importance and main information
The nutritional table is regulated by the National Health Surveillance Agency – Anvisaand serves as a guide to understanding the nutrients in the food and the amount per portion indicated.
Its importance is immense when it comes to food security and protection of the population’s health. It is through the nutritional table, for example, that people with allergies to certain substances can check whether that product is suitable for their consumption or not.
By facilitating the reading of nutritional properties of foodhelps the population to make a conscious and balanced choice, bringing even more well-being when eating.
Which products should be labeled?
An important addendum is worth mentioning here. Product labeling in Brazil is mandatory for different foods.
According to Anvisa itself, the lack of a nutritional table on the label is considered health infractionand is punishable.
In short, all processed foods and beverages produced, sold and packaged in the absence of the customer must be labeled. And this includes the presence of the nutritional table.
Therefore, try to consume products from companies that value good labeling and even have a nutritional table on all products.
In addition to being a sign for the business credibilitycorrect labeling avoids problems with public policies, bringing only reliable products to the market.
Main information from the nutritional table
The nutritional table must contain, by law, some basic information.
In the next topics, we will address each of the necessary items and understand what they mean.
Follow along.
Energetic value
This is the first item on a nutritional table. It indicates the number of calories per serving of food, which is expressed in kilocalories (kcal).
Calories are sources of energy. And in the nutritional table you can see how much energy can be produced by our body from three nutrients present in the food: carbohydrates, proteins and total fats.
Carbohydrates
Speaking of carbohydrates, they are also present in nutritional table. As we have seen, they are responsible for providing energy to our body. And they are most present in pasta, rice, oats, grains and flour.
Within this category, there are also sugars. That’s why in the nutritional table, they appear below and slightly shifted to the right, as they belong to the same group.
Sugars
With the new labeling rule, from 2023 all nutritional tables must show the amount of sugar in food and the amount of added sugar.
| Added sugars | Natural or non-added sugars |
| cane sugar, beet sugar, sugars from other sources, sucrose, glucose, fructose, lactose and dextrose. | polio |
| honey, molasses, molasses, brown sugar, sugarcane juice and malt extract. | sugars consumed by microbial fermentation or non-enzymatic browning during food processing. |
| invert sugar, syrups, maltodextrins and other hydrolyzed carbohydrates. | sugars naturally present in milk and dairy products. |
| ingredients with the addition of any of the previous ingredients. | sugars naturally present in vegetables, including fruits, whole, in pieces, in powder, dehydrated form, in pulp, in purees, in whole juices, in reconstituted juices and in concentrated juices. |
Proteins
An important nutrient for the formation of hormones and enzymes, which help in the function of tissues, muscles, cells and organs in the body.
Typically, foods of animal origin contain good concentrations of protein. As examples, we have meat, eggs and milk. However, vegetables such as beans, chickpeas, oats and peas also fall into this category.
Total fat
Fats can also be considered energy sources for the body, as in addition to participating in the nutrient absorption process, they participate in the formation of our brain.
Within the nutritional table, total fat means the sum of unsaturated, saturated and trans. See below what each one means.
Unsaturated fats
The most beneficial for health. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, very present in fish oil.
Saturated fat
These are fats that come from animal origin or plant-based foods, such as coconut oil.
Trans Fats
In 2023, Anvisa banned the production, import, use and supply of oils and fats partially hydrogenated – whether for use in foods or foods formulated with the substance.
The decision was implemented due to the harm caused by trans fat the health. One of them is that our body does not identify this type of fat as a nutrient, which causes it to accumulate in the veins and arteries, increasing cardiac and inflammatory risk.
But pay close attention: If the proportion of trans fat in the food is equal to or less than 0.2g, the labeling allows this value to be rounded to 0g in the nutritional table.
Food fibers
They are classified between soluble and insoluble within a nutritional table.
The first are responsible for the absorption of carbohydrates and reduce the absorption of fat. The insoluble ones are not absorbed, but play an important role in the digestive system, mainly by stimulating peristaltic movements.
Sodium
It deserves special attention, as it is excellent for water balance, muscle contraction and blood pressure. However, when consumed in excess, it can cause hypertension.
It is worth noting that these are the mandatory elements within a nutritional table, however, in some cases, other ingredients can be implemented to perform this reading.
Portions
There is also the issue of portions. In the nutritional table they appear as number of servings per package e number of grams or milliliters per serving.
Before the new labeling rules, Anvisa indicated the portion used based on the average amount consumed per person. For example, a liter of milk could have a portion of 200ml as a reference, as it is the measurement of a glass of drink, and the table states that the product contains 5 portions of packaging, which means that it serves up to 5 glasses of milk of 200ml each.
With the new rule, there was standardization. In addition to using the information relating to a portion, quantities per 100g or 100ml will appear in the table. This will be implemented for most packaged foods, aiming for easy comparison for the consumer.
With a practical example: if you buy a 900g can of whey protein, and the dose to prepare it is 30g, then the reference portion that will be in the nutritional table is 30g and the number of doses per package will be 30 doses .
Front Nutritional Labeling
The big news about the new labeling rule is the front information.
You can find some informative symbols on the front of the packaging, indicating the high content of three specific nutrients: added sugars, saturated fats and sodium. These concentrations also differ between solid, semi-solid or liquid foods.
The decision was made in view of the damage that these substances cause to the human body, especially when consumed in excess.
The idea is that when seeing the magnifying glass symbol (shown below), it makes it easier for the consumer to read and alert them to what they are ingesting.
See also | Learn how to avoid cross-contamination and ensure safe food
To make this journey safer, you need a trusted brand in the food industry. With this, the Taina Alimentos can assist you.
Specialized in natural products, Tainá delivers food options that preserve most of the original nutrients found in natural ingredients. All of this within the correct labeling standards, bringing even more transparency to the food it produces.
Furthermore, the brand is committed to food security. Therefore, it ensures that it is free from cross-contamination, delivering healthy and reliable options to its consumers.
When choosing products from Taina Alimentosyou not only strengthen your commitment to natural eating, but you put into practice a conscious choice for your long-term health.
Look for the brand’s products in natural food stores near you! Or visit the website and find out more.
