Editorial Team
Food labels contain a lot of information. Knowing where to look makes shopping faster and helps you compare products fairly.
Start with the serving size
Nutrition figures are given per serving, per 100 grams, or both. Compare products using the per-100-gram column, then check how much you will realistically eat.
Look at sugars, salt and fiber
Check total sugars, and added sugars where listed. Look at salt or sodium, since many packaged foods contain more than people expect. Higher fiber is generally a good sign in grains and cereals.
Read the ingredients list
Ingredients appear in order of weight, with the largest first. If sugar or refined flour is near the top, the product is mostly that.
Be wary of front-of-pack claims
Words like “natural” or “wholesome” are not the same as healthy. Use the nutrition panel and ingredients list to judge.
