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Food and Nutrition

Description: Appendix 1: Comparison between the Current and the Proposed Nutrition Facts Table

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The figure in the Appendix shows an example of the current and proposed Nutrition Facts table.

In the figure on the left, the Nutrition Facts table lists the serving size as "Per ¾ cup (175 g)". The number of calories listed is 170 and the total fat is 5 grams or 1% of the % Daily Value. Fat is broken down to 3.5 grams Saturated fat and 0.2 grams Trans fat which have a combined % Daily Value of 10%. The amount of cholesterol is listed as 20 milligrams, with no percent Daily Value associated with it. The amount of sodium listed is 450 milligrams or 20% of the percent Daily Value. The total carbohydrate amount listed is 23 g or 8% of the % Daily Value. Carbohydrate is broken down to 0 grams of fibre (or 0% of the Daily Value) and 18 grams of sugars. The amount of protein is listed as 7 grams with no associated percent Daily Value. Vitamin A is listed as 0% of the % Daily Value and Vitamin C is listed as 0% of the percent Daily Value. Calcium is listed as 0% of the percent Daily Value and Iron is listed as 7% of the percent Daily Value. There are no grams or milligrams values for vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron.

The figure on the right is an example of a Nutrition Facts table which is marked up with the changes being proposed by Health Canada. The Nutrition Facts table lists the serving size as "Per ¾ cup (175 grams)". To the right of the table are three explanatory notes about the proposed changes that read "Right justify Serving Size," "Add asterisk referring to footnote," and "Add thick lines (3 times)." The number of calories listed is 170. To the left of the table is one explanatory note about the proposed changes that read "Move calories up, bold and increase font size."

Below the first thick line in the Nutrition Fact table which is below Calories, the total fat is 5 grams and equivalent to 1% of the Daily Value. Fat is broken down into 3.5 grams Saturated fat, which is equivalent 18% of the Daily Value, and 0.2 grams Trans fat, which is equivalent to 10% of the Daily Value. To the left of the table is an explanatory note on the proposed changes that states "Remove thin line between Fat and Saturated." To the right of the table is an explanatory note about the proposed changes that states "Separate DV's for trans and saturated fat." Within the table, the amount of cholesterol is 20 milligrams, with no % Daily Value associated with it. The amount of sodium is 450 milligrams and equivalent to 20% of the Daily Value. The carbohydrate amount listed is 23 g, with no the % Daily Value associated with it. Below carbohydrates is 18 grams of total sugars, which are equivalent to 18% of the Daily Value. Below total sugars is 12 grams of added sugars. There is no % Daily Value associated with added sugars. To the right of the table is an explanatory note on the proposed changes that states "Have a %DV for total sugars" and "Add a declaration for "added sugars."

To the left of the table, with an arrow pointing towards the thick black line in the Nutrition Facts table, is an explanatory note about the proposed changes that states "Nutrients of public health concern to limit have a %DV and are above the thick line." The "and" in this sentence is underlined. Below the arrow is another explanatory note which states "Nutrients of public health concern to get enough of have a %DV and are below the thick line".

Below the second thick line, the amount of fibre is 0 grams and protein is 7 grams with no associated % Daily Value for either. The amount of Vitamin D is 1.3 micrograms and equivalent to 9% of the Daily Value. The amount of Calcium is 220 milligrams and equivalent to 17% of the Daily Value. The amount of Iron is 2 milligrams and equivalent to 10% of the Daily Value, and the amount of Potassium is 150 milligrams and 4% of the Daily Value. To the right of the table is an explanatory note about the proposed changes that reads "Add absolute amounts for vitamins/minerals; Remove Vitamin A and C, add Vitamin D and Potassium." There is a third thick line below potassium.

Below the third thick line, there is an asterisk with the statement "5% DV or less is a little; 15% DV or more is a lot, 5% VQ ou moins c'est peu; 15% ou plus c'est beaucoup." The terms "a little", "a lot", "c'est peu" and "beaucoup" are bolded. To the left of the panel is an explanatory statement about the proposed changes that reads "Add footnote explaining how to use %DV."