Nutrition Information and Dietary Guidelines

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key concepts from the lecture on nutrition science validity, dietary guidelines, DRI definitions, and food labeling requirements.

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

A professional peer reviewed publication considered one of the most valid and reliable sources for nutrition research.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The government agency responsible for promoting American agriculture and providing nutrition recommendations, which is sometimes criticized for the influence of private industry and lobbyists.

MyPlate

A basic teaching tool for general nutrition recommendations that divides a plate into sections for fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins, with dairy as a separate adjacent section.

2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

A joint publication of the USDA and the US Department of Health and Human Services updated every 5 years to provide an adaptable framework for healthy eating.

Nutrition Facts Label

A tool used to meet dietary recommendations that must include five items: a statement of identity, net contents, manufacturer information, a list of ingredients, and nutrition information.

Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)

The amount of a nutrient that would meet the needs of $50\%$ of the people in a particular life-stage and gender group.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)

The dietary intake level that meets the needs of most people ($97-98\%$) in a life stage and gender group.

Adequate Intake (AI)

A nutrient level determined when there is not enough specific data available to set an EAR.

Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs)

The consumption level above which a nutrient could be harmful, particularly useful for monitoring micro-nutrients.

Percent (%) of Daily Values

Percentages on a nutrition label based on the values for a $2000$ calorie diet.

Health Claims

Statements regulated by the FDA that link a food or a component of the food to a specific health benefit.

Significant Scientific Agreement

The standard defined by the FDA as adequate scientific evidence required to allow health claims on food labels.