Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)/Reference Intake (RI) is the average daily intake level of a nutrient that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all people (97.5%) in a specific age and gender group. When an individual consumes the recommended RDA/RI of a nutrient a deficiency is extremely unlikely to develop. RDAs/RIs can be used to:
• provide nutritional information on packaging • evaluate and plan diets for individuals with special dietary needs.
Reference Intake (RI) on nutritional labelling
The RI of nutrients for an average adult can be found on nutritional labelling of foods, so individuals can see the recommended amount of nutrients they should be consuming daily.
The percentage Reference Intake (% RI) may also be displayed. This helps consumers to see what percentage of their Reference Intake of a nutrient a food provides per 100 g or per portion. Nowadays this is also often documented on the front of pre-packaged food. This helps individuals to achieve adequate nutrient intake.
Tells consumers how much energy and nutrients a food provides per 100 g/ml and/or per portion
Tells consumers what % of their Reference Intake of a specific nutrient a food
provides per 100 g/ml and/or per portion
NUTRITION 100g INFORMATION
TYPICAL VALUES Fat 2.9g
of which: saturates
drained contains
Energy 536 kJ 128 kcal
0.3g
Carbohydrate 16.1g of which: sugars 0.4g Fibre 4.1g 7.2g 0.1g
Protein Salt
Tells consumers what % of their Reference Intake of a specific nutrient a food
provides per 100 g/ml and/or per portion
Half of a drained can (120g) contains
643 kJ 153 kcal
3.5g 0.4g
19.3g 0.5g 4.9g 8.6g 0.1g
Tells consumers the Reference Intake of
nutrients for an average adult
%RI*
5% 2% -
1% - -
2%
*Reference intake of an average adult (8400 kJ/2000 kcal). Portions should be adjusted for children of different ages.
Front of package nutritional label Food composition tables
Food composition tables provide information concerning the nutrient and energy content of 100 g of a solid food or 100 ml of a liquid food. Food composition tables are used:
• by consumers to compare the nutritional value of a wide variety of foods from many different sources
• by dietitians and nutritionists to compile specific diets for a client’s individual needs. 56 Complete Home Economics Back of package nutritional label
