Nutrition Labeling and Digestion - Key Vocabulary (Video Notes)

VOCABULARY flashcards covering key terms related to nutrition labeling, dietary supplements, claims, and the basic anatomy of digestion as discussed in the lecture notes.

Nutrition Facts Label

A standardized label on packaged foods listing serving size, calories, macro- and micronutrients, percent daily value (%DV), and other required information to help consumers assess nutritional value.

Serving Size

The reference amount used for the nutrition information on a product; updated to reflect realistic or typical portions.

Calories Per Serving

The amount of energy provided by one serving of the food.

Added Sugars

Sugars added during processing or preparation, distinguished from naturally occurring sugars; associated with empty calories.

Percent Daily Value (%DV)

The percentage of the recommended daily intake for a nutrient provided by one serving, typically based on a 2,000 kcal/day diet.

Daily Value (DV)

The reference amount used on nutrition labels to express %DV for each nutrient.

Low in nutrients

less than 5% of the Daily Value per serving.

High in nutrients

20% or more of the Daily Value per serving.

Ingredients List

A list of all ingredients in a product, listed from greatest to least by weight.

Fortification

The addition of nutrients to foods to improve their nutritional content or prevent deficiencies.

Vitamin A (Fortified milk)

Vitamin A added to milk as part of fortification to restore nutrient content after processing.

Vitamin D (Fortified milk)

Vitamin D added to milk to support bone health; commonly fortified in dairy products.

Potassium

Mineral important for blood pressure regulation; included on some nutrition labels as a key nutrient.

Calcium

Mineral essential for bone health; commonly listed on nutrition labels.

Saturated Fat

Fat typically from animal sources; can raise LDL cholesterol and heart disease risk; noted with a Daily Value on labels.

Trans Fat

Fats with trans fatty acids, often from partially hydrogenated oils; linked to heart disease; increasingly reduced in foods.

Unsaturated Fat

Fats derived from plant or fish sources (mono- and polyunsaturated); generally healthier than saturated fats.

Dietary Supplement

Products intended to supplement the diet; not as tightly regulated as drugs; require a supplement facts label.

Supplement Facts Label

Label on dietary supplements listing ingredients and amounts, separate from the Nutrition Facts label.

USP Label

Independent verification mark (United States Pharmacopeia) indicating product quality and accurate contents.

Nutrient Content Claim

Front-of-pack claim about the level of a nutrient (e.g., low fat, high fiber) in a product.

Health Claim

Statement about a nutrient or food’s relationship to health or disease risk; supported by regulatory standards (SSA, authoritative statements, or qualified claims).

Structure/Function Claim

Claim about how a nutrient affects body function (e.g., supports energy); not FDA-regulated for disease prevention and must include a disclaimer.

Significant Scientific Agreement (SSA)

A high level of scientific consensus backing a health claim’s link between a nutrient and a health outcome.

Authoritative Statement

A health claim backed by a government agency or recognized scientific body with strong evidence.

Qualified Health Claim

A health claim with emerging or limited evidence; not as well established as SSA or authoritative claims.

Sell By Date

Date indicating when a product should be sold or used; helps with stock rotation and is not a strict safety deadline.

Food Insecurity

Lack of reliable access to sufficient, nutritious food; tracked by national public health initiatives like Healthy People.

Healthy People

U.S. government public health initiative with decadal goals to improve nationwide health and reduce disparities.

Potassium Daily Value Target

Recommended daily intake target for potassium (about 2,700 mg per day for many adults) to help regulate blood pressure.

FDA

U.S. Food and Drug Administration; regulates foods, drugs, and label compliance to protect public health.

USDA

U.S. Department of Agriculture; regulates meat/poultry labeling and other agricultural products.