Nutrition facts, marketing labels, long lists of ingredients — it’s enough to overwhelm you in the grocery aisles. But healthy eating starts with savvy shopping. Test your knowledge of different types of food labeling in the quiz below.
Are You Label Smart?
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1
If a food or drink comes in an individual package, it’s an individual serving.
A
True
B
False
Correct Answer for Question 1:
False. In truth, that 32-ounce soda or pint of ice cream contains multiple servings, and each serving packs a sugar wallop. Because eating appropriate serving sizes is important, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recommended making serving sizes more prominent on nutrition labels — and changing them for some foods.
2
When reading a nutrition label, what “percent daily value” of fiber and calcium should you aim for in a serving of food?
A
5 percent or more
B
10 percent or more
C
15 percent or more
D
20 percent or more
Correct Answer for Question 2:
20 percent or more. Calcium is essential for healthy bones and teeth, among other things, and fiber aids in healthy digestion and weight management. Get advice for reading a nutrition label.
3
Which of the following ingredients contribute to the sodium count on a nutrition label?
A
Salt
B
Sodium bicarbonate
C
Soda
D
Sodium nitrite
E
Monosodium glutamate
F
All of the above
Correct Answer for Question 3:
All of the above. If you’re trying to cook and eat low-sodium, be on the lookout for these words on the label. They all contribute to the sodium count in your diet.
4
If a food has an “organic” label of any type, all of its ingredients are organic.
A
True
B
False
Correct Answer for Question 4:
False. In this case, the specific label matters. If you are concerned about avoiding genetically modified organisms, for example, or eating only organic food, check for a “100 percent organic” label. Other labels make allowances for nonorganic ingredients.
5
Which of the following is not a type of added sugar?
A
High-fructose corn syrup
B
Fructose
C
Potassium sorbate
D
Malt syrup
E
Molasses
F
Crystal dextrose
Correct Answer for Question 5:
Potassium sorbate. But the point is that everything else here — and many other ingredients — is a type of added sugar. Cutting added sugars out of your diet goes a long way toward weight loss and decreasing disease risk.
6
You should throw away food after its “use by” date has passed.
A
True
B
False
Correct Answer for Question 6:
False. This date, which manufacturers include, is simply the last date for peak quality — taste and texture, for example. It does not refer to food safety the way an “expiration” date does.
7
Foods with “reduced-fat” on the label typically include added sugar.
A
True
B
False
Correct Answer for Question 7:
True. Beware of diet foods labeled as reduced fat or reduced sugar, and check labels closely. For example, reduced-fat peanut butter often comes with extra sugar, corn syrup or honey to compensate for the loss of fat. In some cases, manufacturers also add soy protein to make up for the lower peanut content.
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Take this #quiz on food labels and find out if you’re a savvy shopper.
