Let's be real. If you've ever casually browsed the aisles of a grocery store, chances are
you've picked up a box, bag, or bottle to inspect the chart of nutritional facts or
the list of ingredients on the packaging. Perhaps you do this because you have a specific
food allergy or other dietary restrictions and have turned this into an important habit.
Or maybe you want to make sure the product contains or omits something in particular.
Who knows? It's also possible that you're just totally and utterly curious to see exactly
what's in the item you're about to toss in your cart. The food and drink labels are an
extremely helpful source of information for those who want to know how many calories,
carbohydrates, or fats they're consuming per serving. They're also legally required to
be there.
Food labels are designed in a specific way, as they have to abide by certain regulations
and communicate products' nutritional contents to shoppers. Here's why food and beverage
packaging labels mean way more than some people may realize.
Because nutritional labels don't list ingredients alphabetically, you might wonder if the order
on your label has any significance. The short answer is yes; the ingredients you see on
the labels of your food are indeed sorted in a very strategic manner. According to the
Food and Drug Administration, the ingredients are actually listed in order of the predominance
of their weight, from most to least. In other words, the ingredient used in the greatest
amount is always listed first, and the list descends from there.
To keep consumers safe and satisfied, which is a top priority of food manufacturers, the
U.S. government requires all of the ingredients contained in packaged foods and nonalcoholic
beverages to be made 100% transparent. That way, people know what they're eating and drinking!
As a matter of fact, the FDA has an official record of more than 4,000 ingredients in a
massive database that's fittingly named "Substances Added to Food." The database includes key
information about every single legal ingredient, such as additives and coloring, that can be
added to our everyday foods and drinks.
As we've all seen at one point or another, some ingredients that are listed on labels
have long-winded, unfamiliar, and scientific names. Every single food and drink we consume,
from freshly-picked fruits and raw vegetables to pure spices to factory-made snacks, meals,
and liquid refreshments — is composed of a variety of chemical compounds that directly
influence color, texture, flavor, color, and nutritional value. However, all food ingredients,
including flavor- and color-enhancing additives such as vitamins, minerals, sugars, dyes,
emulsifiers, stabilizers, and thickeners are well-regulated by protective federal organizations.
This is so that shoppers can make informed decisions about what they put into their bodies
and know that each label at the store is accurate.
While the term "additive" may seem intimidating to some consumers, it's good to know that
not all additives are necessarily a bad thing. In fact, the term is widely misunderstood.
Many important naturally-occurring and beneficial nutrients, like fiber, antioxidants, and spices,
are added to packaged goods in order to improve freshness, add nutritional value, and boost
texture and taste, as the FDA states.
Of course, it's extremely important to understand the significance of certain ingredients, as
well as to be aware of the many different terms for pretty much the same thing. For
example, there are various types of added sugars that can be found in different types
of products, including glucose, fructose, and sucrose, plus some less common types like
galactose and maltose. Sugar is usually added to foods in order to sweeten the flavor, alter
the overall texture, and/or extend the shelf life. And for the most part, our bodies digest
most sugars in basically the same way, according to Self.
In any case, ingredients are what make up the foods and drinks we love and enjoy. Whether
it's in the form of a quick snack, a sustainable meal, a tiny sip or giant gulp, or a way to
keep ourselves hydrated and satisfied, they are what keep us alive and healthy. Now that
you know the major significance of the order of ingredients on your favorite foods' and
beverages' labels, you can hopefully shop a bit more confidently. Fun fact: Next time
you pick up a package of Goldfish crackers, take a brief moment to read the label. You'll
notice that the first listed item is, of course, smiles. Happy grocery shopping!
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