Are nutrition facts ever wrong?

Unfortunately, Nutrition Facts labels are not always factual. For starters, the law allows a pretty lax margin of error—up to 20 percent—for the stated value versus actual value of nutrients. In reality, that means a 100-calorie pack could, theoretically, contain up to 120 calories and still not be violating the law.

Are nutrition facts on food accurate?

You may be wondering now how accurate these standards are. It depends on the food matrix and the nutrient, but in general NIST’s measurements are accurate to within 2\% to 5\% for nutrient elements (such as sodium, calcium and potassium), macronutrients (fats, proteins and carbohydrates), amino acids and fatty acids.

What is the most common mistake in reading nutrition facts?

5 Mistakes of Label Reading

• Ignore the label. Just grab all of your food off the shelf with no regard to a food label.
• Think that one package or bottle is one serving.
• Ignore the sodium.
• Sugar free or fat free is not calorie free.
• Package sounds healthier than the real nutrition facts.

Is it illegal to lie on nutrition facts?

Nutritional facts are FDA approved so we all trust what the label displays. However, nutritional facts can actually be misleading. The law allows a margin of error up to 20 percent. The FDA has never established a system where companies must comply with the law it’s expected to be self-enforced according to usnews.com.

Why is it important to read food labels?

Knowing how to read food labels is especially important if you have health conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and need to follow a special diet. It also makes it easier to compare similar foods to see which is healthier.

Can companies lie about their nutrition facts?

Things like this are just there to catch the shopper’s eye. Most of the time it’s a trick to get the consumer to buy the product. The average grocery shopper does not look at the nutrition facts.

Is it illegal to mislabel food?

In California, the state takes legal measures to ensure the protection and safety of consumers. According to Health and Safety Code 114087 HS, it is illegal to mislabel food and sell that food to consumers. Given that human error can occur, it is important that the code specifies the elements that must be proven.