What is Mandatory on a Nutrition Label? A Comprehensive Guide

October 10, 2025 •

2 min read

According to the FDA, the Nutrition Facts label was significantly updated in 2016 to reflect modern dietary science, emphasizing calories and serving size. Understanding what is mandatory on a nutrition label is crucial for making informed food choices that support your health and wellness goals.

Quick Summary

Packaged foods must display a Nutrition Facts panel detailing serving size, calorie content, total fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, protein, and four specific vitamins and minerals, based on standardized FDA regulations.

Key Points

Serving Size is Key: The entire Nutrition Facts label is based on the serving size, so remember to adjust all other values if you consume more than one serving. {Link: fao.org https://www.fao.org/4/t2860t/t2860t07.htm}
Check for Added Sugars: A mandatory line item, 'Added Sugars,' helps distinguish sugars added during processing from naturally occurring sugars, which is important for managing sugar intake. {Link: fao.org https://www.fao.org/4/t2860t/t2860t07.htm}
Understand % Daily Value: Use the %DV column to quickly determine if a food is high (20% or more) or low (5% or less) in a particular nutrient. {Link: fao.org https://www.fao.org/4/t2860t/t2860t07.htm}
Four Vitamins/Minerals are Mandatory: The current US label requires listing Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, and Potassium, reflecting the most pressing public health needs. {Link: fao.org https://www.fao.org/4/t2860t/t2860t07.htm}
Saturated Fat and Sodium: The FDA recommends limiting saturated fat and sodium, making these critical nutrients to check for lower %DV on the label. {Link: fao.org https://www.fao.org/4/t2860t/t2860t07.htm}
Focus on Healthy Nutrients: To support overall health, look for foods higher in %DV for dietary fiber, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium. {Link: fao.org https://www.fao.org/4/t2860t/t2860t07.htm}

The Core Components of the Nutrition Facts Label

The Nutrition Facts label is a standardized panel found on most packaged foods in the United States, providing a snapshot of the product's nutritional profile. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates specific elements to ensure consistent and accurate information for consumers. All values are based on a single serving size, clearly listed at the top of the panel.

Serving Information

At the very top of the label, you'll find the serving information. This includes:

Serving Size: The amount typically eaten at one time.
Servings Per Container: How many servings are in the package.

The Mandatory Nutrient Declarations

{Link: datacor.com https://www.datacor.com/resources/nutrition-facts-label-requirements} The label lists a specific set of mandatory nutrients per serving. These include calories, total fat (with saturated and trans fat listed separately), cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates (with dietary fiber, total sugars, and added sugars), and protein. Additionally, four vitamins and minerals are mandatory: Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, and Potassium.

Deciphering the Percent Daily Value (%DV)

{Link: fda.gov https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-facts-label/daily-value-nutrition-and-supplement-facts-labels} The % Daily Value (%DV) shows how a serving contributes to a 2,000-calorie daily diet. A %DV of 5% or less indicates a low amount, while 20% or more indicates a high amount of that nutrient. The FDA advises consumers to aim for lower %DV of nutrients like saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars, and higher %DV for nutrients like fiber, vitamin D, calcium, and potassium.

US vs. EU Mandatory Labeling: A Comparison

{Link: fao.org https://www.fao.org/4/t2860t/t2860t07.htm} Mandatory labeling requirements differ between the US (FDA) and the EU (FIC). Key differences include how energy is listed (Calories in US, kJ and kcal in EU), the required fat breakdowns, the mandatory listing of cholesterol and specific vitamins/minerals in the US, and the listing of salt (including sodium equivalent) in the EU.

The Evolution of the Nutrition Label

Since 1990, the nutrition label has evolved. A significant update in 2016 introduced changes such as adding "Added Sugars" and altering the mandatory vitamins listed to Vitamin D and potassium to align with contemporary health recommendations. For more information, visit the FDA website.

Conclusion

{Link: fao.org https://www.fao.org/4/t2860t/t2860t07.htm} Mandatory information on a nutrition label provides essential data for informed dietary choices. Key components like serving size, calories, fat breakdown, carbohydrates, and specific vitamins and minerals are regulated by the FDA. {Link: datacor.com https://www.datacor.com/resources/nutrition-facts-label-requirements} Understanding how to read and interpret these labels, including the % Daily Value, empowers consumers to manage their nutrient intake and make healthier decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Nutrition Facts label is intended to inform consumers about the nutritional properties of a food, including its energy value and nutrient content, to help them make healthy and informed food choices.

{Link: fao.org https://www.fao.org/4/t2860t/t2860t07.htm} The FDA mandates that food labels in the US must include serving size and servings per container, calories, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, dietary fiber, total sugars, added sugars, protein, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium.

The % Daily Value (%DV) shows how much a nutrient in a single serving contributes to your total daily diet. It is based on a standard 2,000-calorie diet and helps you determine if a food is high or low in a nutrient.

Total Sugars includes both naturally occurring sugars (like in fruit and milk) and sugars added during processing. Added Sugars, a mandatory new line, explicitly lists the sugars that were added by the manufacturer.

With the 2016 label updates, vitamins A and C were replaced by vitamin D and potassium as mandatory listings. This change reflects current public health concerns about Americans not consuming enough vitamin D and potassium.

A product can claim to be 'trans fat free' if it contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving. However, if the ingredient list includes 'partially hydrogenated oil,' it contains some trans fat, and you must check the serving size carefully.

Yes, some foods are exempt from mandatory nutrition labeling. These include unpackaged items, raw produce, fresh meat and poultry, and foods from very small businesses, although voluntary labeling programs may apply.