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Food Labelling - What Are DRIs & DVs

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI)

 

estimates the energy and nutrient need for healthy people

 

  • Recommended dietary allowance (RDA): the level to meet 97%-98% of needs

  • Adequate intake (AI): the average or mean intake level

  • Estimated average requirement (EAR): the average daily nutrient intake level estimated to meet the requirement of half the needs

  • Tolerable upper intake levels (UL):  the highest level of daily nutrient consumption that is considered to be safe

  • Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDR): range of intake specified as a percentage of total energy intake

    • Protein: 10-35%

    • Fat: 20-35%

    • Carbohydrate: 45-65%

Source: Government of Canada

 

The RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowances)

 

are the amount of nutrients recommended for various groups depending on age, gender and women who are pregnant or lactating set by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

Documents issued by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences

Macronutrients

Vitamins

Elements

Percent Daily Value (DV)

​

The percent daily value (DV) on the Nutrition Facts label shows you the percentage of each nutrient that a serving of the food provides based on a 2000 calorie diet. Not everyone follows a 2000 calorie diet so the percent daily value only helps to determine if a serving of food is low or high in a nutrient.

The guidelines for vitamins and minerals were revised by the FDA and changes were made and went into effect on July 26, 2016.

Quick Guide to Percent DV

Low: 5 % or less 

High: 20 % or more 

Macronutrients 

​

  • Total Fat 65 grams

  • Saturated Fat 20 g

  • Cholesterol 300 milligrams

  • Total Carbohydrate 300 g

  • Dietary Fibre 25 g

  • Protein  50 g

​​​Minerals

​

  • Calcium 1,300 mg​​

  • Chloride 2,300 mg

  • Chromium 35 mcg

  • Copper 0.9 mg

  • Iodine 150 µg

  • Iron 18 mg

  • Magnesium 420 mg

  • Manganese 2.3 mg

  • Molybdenum 45 mcg

  • Phosphorus 1,250 mg

  • Potassium 4,700 mg

  • Selenium 70 µg

  • Sodium  2,400 mg

  • Zinc 11 mg

​​​Vitamins

​

  • Vitamin A 5,000 International Units (IU)

  • Vitamin C 90 mg

  • Choline 550 mg

  • Vitamin D 800 IU (20 mcg)

  • Vitamin E 30 IU

  • Vitamin K 120 mcg

  • Thiamine 1.2 mg

  • Riboflavin 1.3 mg

  • Niacin 16 mg

  • Vitamin B-6 1.7 mg

  • Folate 400 µg

  • Vitamin B-12 2.5 mcg

  • Biotin 30 mcg

  • Pantothenic acid 5 mg

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