R
Reduced: A nutritionally altered product contains at least 25 % less of a nutrient or of calories than the regular, or reference, product. However, it is important to note that a reduced claim cannot be made on a product if its reference food already meets the requirement for a "low" claim. Other terms: fewer, lower, lower in.
Reduced saturated fat: 1 gram or less per serving size or RACC and 15 percent or less of calories from saturated fat (or for meals and main dishes, 1 gram or less per 100 grams and less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat).
Reduced sodium: At least 25 percent less sodium per serving size or RACC than a comparable food without reduced or low sodium (or for meals and main dishes, at least 25 percent less sodium per 100 grams).
Reduced calorie: At least 25 percent fewer calories per serving size or RACC than a comparable food without reduced calories. Or, for meals and main dishes, 120 calories or less per 100 grams
Reduced fat: To qualify as a reduced–fat food, the product must have at least 25 percent less fat per serving than the original version.
Reduced sugar: At least 25 percent less sugar per serving size or RACC than a comparable food without reduced sugar (or for meals and main dishes, at least 25 percent less sugar per 100 grams). This claim may not be used on dietary supplements or vitamins and minerals.
Reference Amount Customarily Consumed (RACC): Also known as serving size. The RACC is determined from the data results of national food consumption surveys. These surveys are performed by asking people how much of a particular food they normally consume. The problem is that most people underestimate the amount of foods they eat, so serving sizes based on what people report are not very realistic.
Rich in: An acceptable synonym for "high".
S
Saturated fat-free: Less than 0.5 grams saturated fat and less than 0.5 grams trans fatty acids per RACC or per serving if the serving size is larger.
Sell by Date: This is the last date that a food is to be sold in order to stay fresh for home storage.
Serving Size: The amount of food the average person is likely to eat. These are set by the FDA. The amounts are based on data from national food consumption surveys performed by asking people how much of a particular food they normally consume this is called Reference Amount Customarily Consumed or RACC. The FDA is considering changing this to make sure that it is more accurate.
Skim: An acceptable synonym for fat-free milk.
Sodium-free: Less than 5 milligrams per serving size or RACC (or for meals and main dishes, less than 5 milligrams per serving if the serving size is larger). Contains no sodium chloride or any ingredient that is generally understood to contain sodium. "Salt Free" must also meet the criteria for "Sodium Free.
Sugar-free: Sugar free means less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving. But this doesn't necessarily mean the food is healthy or great for weight loss. It could mean that the food manufacturer has added more fat or sodium to improve the taste and compensate for the lack of sugar. In that case, all you'd be doing is swapping one unhealthy nutrient for another.
More: 3 Simple Ways to Cut Sugar Out of Your Diet
T
Trim: The fat layer that surrounds a cut of meat. Look for a trim of 1/8 inch or less. Marbled fat cannot be trimmed away because it is inside the meat, "select" and "choice" cuts have the least marbling.
U
UHT: Ultra Heat-Treated: A process similar to ultra pasteurization in that high temperatures and sterile containers are used to give food the ability to be stored, unopened, for up to three months. Once opened, it must be stored in a refrigerator.
Ultra-Pasteurized: This is a heating process that goes beyond pasteurization to extend the time that the product can be stored on the shelf or in the refrigerator. (Like Parmalat for example).
V
Very low sodium: 35 milligrams or less per serving size or RACC, or per 50 grams if serving size or RACC is small. For meals and main dishes, 35 milligrams or less per 100 grams.
W
Without: an acceptable synonym for "free."
Z
Zero: an acceptable synonym for "free."
More: 10 Superfoods for Endurance Athletes
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