The % Daily Value

Learn to make healthier food choices by using the Nutrition Facts table on prepackaged foods. The % Daily Value is found in the Nutrition Facts table.

• What is the % Daily Value?
• How are the Daily Values developed?
• Helpful hints at the grocery store
• Additional resources

What is the % Daily Value?

The % DV is a tool to help you see if a specific amount of food has a little or a lot of a nutrient.

In the Nutrition Facts table, there is a % DV for:

Fat, saturated and trans fats (combined), sodium, carbohydrate, fibre, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron.

Protein and sugars do not have a % DV.

• There is no % DV for protein since most Canadians get enough.
• There is no % DV for sugars because there is no generally accepted sugar target for a healthy population.

The % DV for cholesterol is optional. This means food companies can choose to show the % DV for cholesterol if they want to.

How are the Daily Values developed?

The Daily Values for vitamins and minerals are based on the highest recommended intakes for each age and sex group, so they apply to most people aged 2 and over. They do not include extra needs for pregnancy and breastfeeding.

In the Nutrition Facts table, the amount of each nutrient contained in the food product is divided by its Daily Value and then multiplied by 100.

For example, the Daily Value for iron is 14 mg. If in the Nutrition Facts table, a food product has 2 mg of iron, the % DV for iron would be 14%.
(2 mg ÷ 14 mg) × 100 = 14%.

Helpful hints at the grocery store:

• Always look at the Nutrition Facts table to choose and compare foods.
• The % DV in the Nutrition Facts table is for a specific amount of food. If you eat more or less than the amount of food shown in the Nutrition Facts table, you will also eat more or less of the nutrients and Calories listed. You should always compare the amount you actually eat to the amount listed in the Nutrition Facts table.

Test Your Knowledge

1. True or False.
   The Daily Values used in nutrition labelling are based on the needs of a 50-year-old Canadian woman?
   Read the answer
   
   

   Answer: False.
   The Daily Values used in nutrition labelling are not developed for any specific gender and age category. All consumers can use the % DV as a benchmark, whether or not they know their individual nutrient needs.

   For example, an active man will not have the same daily nutrition needs as a six year old girl. However, both of them can still use the % DV to see if a food product has a little or a lot of the nutrients that are important to them.

2. True or False.
   If the Nutrition Facts table on a food product shows 30% DV for calcium, this means that one serving of this food gives you 30% of the amount of calcium you may need in a day, or about one-third of your daily need.
   Read the answer
   
   
   Answer: True.
   Despite the fact that the % DV will provide you with an approximation of your daily needs, remember that we all have different needs. The best ways to use the % DV are:

   • To see if a food has a little or a lot of a nutrient.
   • To compare two different food products and make a better choice for you.
   • To choose products that are higher in the nutrients you want more of and lower in the nutrients you want less of.

Additional resources:

• Interactive tools
• Using the Nutrition Facts table: % Daily Value (Factsheet)
• Interactive Nutrition Label and Quiz
• Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide
• Shopping tips
• Dietitians of Canada's  eaTracker lets you track your day's food and activity choices.