Category: Label reading

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener found in over 6,000 products worldwide, from chewing gum to diet sodas. For consumers managing specific health conditions or simply choosing to avoid it, knowing how to identify aspartame on food labels is a critical skill for making informed purchasing decisions.

Over the years, the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) has gained a controversial reputation, and many people wish to avoid it. Knowing how to check if food has MSG is essential, as the additive is not always listed under its common name and can be cleverly disguised in processed ingredients. This guide will equip you with the knowledge to read labels effectively and spot MSG in its many forms.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), understanding the 'Nutrition Facts' panel can help support a balanced diet. Learning the important facts you can learn from a food label is a powerful tool.

According to the World Health Organization, the average global sodium intake is more than double the recommended amount. Understanding how much is too much sodium per 100g is crucial for making healthier food choices and avoiding the hidden salt in many packaged foods. This guide will decode food labels and help you manage your daily sodium consumption effectively.

According to reputable sources like RxList, the abbreviation IE, often seen on international nutritional labels, stands for 'International Unit'. This metric is a standardized measure of the biological activity of specific substances, which can often confuse consumers accustomed to weight-based units like milligrams (mg) or micrograms (mcg).

Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is a flavor enhancer naturally present in many foods and added to many others. Learning how to identify MSG is crucial for making informed dietary choices. It's listed on ingredient labels for packaged foods, but can also be found in more subtle forms and in restaurant dishes.

According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), milk is one of the top eight most common food allergens, affecting an estimated 2.5% of children. Navigating food labels to avoid dairy can be challenging, as it hides under many different names, some of which are not immediately obvious.

Over 75% of processed foods in some markets contain food additives, which can be a tricky area for vegans to navigate. Many E-codes, which are standard names for food additives, are derived from animals, insects, or dairy products, making them unsuitable for a vegan diet. Knowing which E-codes to look out for is crucial for conscious consumers who want to ensure their food choices align with their values.

According to Monash University, even a single, small clove of garlic is high in fructans, the type of FODMAP that can trigger IBS symptoms. So, is less than 2% garlic low FODMAP and safe to eat, or is it a hidden trap for your sensitive gut?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), reducing free sugar intake to below 5% of total daily energy offers additional health benefits. But what does this mean in real terms, and is 3 grams of sugar too much to be concerned about in a single product? It is critical to look beyond the number on the label to understand its context within your overall diet.