Know What Food Labels Mean -

No fat Low fat Light Help

Precise wording matters for food labels so get to know the difference for terms such as " low fat " " no fat " " light" and " lean "

Confused by choices when you go grocery shopping or even when you grab a snack? The proliferation of foods designed to provide fewer calories has complicated our decision making. Clip out this handy reference. Each description is per serving. Fat Free: Fewer than 0.5 grams of fat Low Fat: 3 grams or fewer of fat Reduced or Less Fat: At least 25 percent less fat than the full-fat product Lean: Fewer than 10 grams of fat overall, 4.5 grams or less of saturated fat, and no more than 95 milligrams of cholesterol Light: Half the fat or one-third fewer calories than the full-fat product. If half or more of the food's calories (in its "regular" formulation) come from fat, then the maker has to cut 50 percent of the product's fat content for it to be deemed "light." Cholesterol Free: Fewer than 2 milligrams of cholesterol and 2 grams of saturated fat Calorie Free: Fewer than 5 calories Low Calorie: 40 or fewer calories "Reduced" or "Fewer" Calories: At least 25 percent fewer calories than the full-fat product Clearly, the semantics matter. Knowledge is power, so know before you go shopping. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

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