A manufacturer is only required to provide nutritional Information if a consumer asks for it or if the product makes a claim such as 'low fat' or 'high in fibre'.
However, if a company voluntarily decides to provide this information then it must comply with certain regulations.
The following components are featured on Nutritional Information:
Energy
Energy is measured in calories (kcal) or joules (kj).
Protein
Foods such as meat, fish and soy products are full of protein. It is important for growth and body repair.
Carbohydrate
Carbohydrates can be derived from food such as potatoes, bread, rice and pasta. They predominantly made up of sugars and starch. Nutritional information labels will tell you how much of the carbohydrates are sugars (the rest will be starch.)
Starch
Most of our energy comes from starch, rather than from fats and sugars.
Sugars
Sugars refer to both natural sugars, eg. fructose in fruit, and added, more refined sugars eg. sucrose and glucose, which are more harmful, especially to teeth.
Saturated fat
This is the most harmful type of fats and they can raise cholesterol levels significantly, which in turn can lead to heart disease. Saturated fats are common in foods such as cheese, sausages, pies and butter.
Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat
Monounsaturates do not effect cholesterol, and polyunsaturates reduce cholesterol levels. Although monounsaturates (found in olive and rapeseed oil) and polyunsaturates (found in sunflower and soya oil) are a healthier option, they are still fats and can lead to weight gain.
Dietary fibre
Fibre can be found in foods such as wholemeal bread, baked beans, fruit and vegetables and can help reduce constipation and piles.
Sodium
Most of the sodium found in food comes from salt and can cause high blood pressure so should be avoided.
Special claims
Labels such as "Low Calorie", "Diet", "High in Polyunsaturates", "Rich in Vitamins", must be clearly justified on the nutrition information. There are also specific regulations on claims, which must be adhered to.