What do all the logos mean? How to read a nutrition panel.

Reading a nutrition panel in a busy supermarket, maybe with kids in tow, or a partner who just wants to get home, is not an ideal environment to take in all the information.

How much sugar is too much per 100g? How many carbs is in the healthy range? What serving size should I be sticking to? The labels, logos, and nutrition panel on packaged foods are hard to interpret, particularly if you’re looking to lose weight. A few tips and tricks can save lots of time when browsing for healthy food when you’re doing your grocery shop.

Learning to read a food label is essential so you can make smart choices that eliminate unnecessary fat, excess sugar, salt, and calories. The food industry has strict requirements and regulations, so labels must include information for people with food allergies, what additives the food might contain, storage instructions among other things.

The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating is a short cut to seeing if a food should be eaten ‘sometimes’ or ‘regularly’. The Nutrition Information Panel can then be used to compare packaged food of a similar type to then decide which one is the best in terms of less fat, salt, sugar and calories. It also helps to be wary of foods that look like a single serve but contain more than one helping.

The Nutrition Information Panel simplifies quantities of nutrients the product contains such as carbohydrates, protein, fat, dietary fibre and sodium, making it easier to work out how much you should be consuming in each serving/per day. These quantities are particularly important if you’re trying to lose weight.

The Health Star Rating system, which you’ll find on the front of packaged food, helps you to make informed decisions easily and ultimately choose healthier options. This panel contains specific information about the nutrition and energy – the more stars, the healthier the food. It’s a great way to compare similar products too.

The ingredients list must also be mentioned on the packaging, in order of their quantities by weight. In addition, nutrition content claims may be included. These can only be used if a food meets certain criteria e.g. only 10 calories per 100g. Health claims (which are different to the nutrition claims mentioned above), link the food to a health effect such as gluten free.

Slendier products also contain several logos on the back of the pack. Our Angel Hair Style in the konjac range, for example, includes the gluten free, vegan, Halal and Kosher logos – making it quick and easy to decide if the product is the right choice for you.

The nutrition information as well as product and cooking instructions for all of our products can be found on our website.