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Texas (KBTX) – This segment on The Three was paid for and sponsored by St. Joseph Health
A registered dietitian at St. Joseph Health said food labels contain useful information, but many people misread key details such as serving size
Michelle Dohrman, a registered dietitian at St. Joseph Health, said one common problem is that people do not pay attention to the serving size listed on a label, assuming it matches the amount they are eating
“I think a lot of people are very confused by these labels, unfortunately, because they do have a lot of really good information if you just know what to look for,” Dohrman said. “I think one big problem I run into is people aren’t necessarily paying attention to what a serving size is on the label because they just assume what they’re eating is what the serving size will be on the food label and often it’s not.”
Dohrman said serving sizes are standardized across similar products so consumers can compare items, but that standard serving may not match what a person actually eats
Dohrman also said people often overlook how many servings are listed in a container. She said a pint of Blue Bell ice cream was previously labeled as four servings, though many people considered a pint to be one serving
“Everything that you are looking at, like the calories, the carbs, the fats, all those would have to be multiplied by 4 if you ate the whole pint in one sitting,” Dohrman said
Dohrman said the percent daily values listed on labels, including for fat, protein and sodium, are often ignored. She said those percentages are based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet and may not apply exactly to everyone, since calorie needs vary by person
“If it says 5% of the daily value, that’s considered a low amount,” Dohrman said. “If it says 20%, that’s considered a high amount.”
Dohrman said a lower percentage, such as 5%, is preferred for sodium, saturated fat and added sugar. She said a higher percentage, 20% or more, is preferred for fiber, iron, vitamin D, calcium and potassium
Dohrman said what a person should focus on when reading labels depends on their health goals. She said someone on a heart-healthy diet might focus on the amount andd should be restricted for people with heart issues as well as the general population
She said someone with diabetes might focus more on total carbohydrates or sugar content
Dohrman said sodium should be kept to no more than 2,300 milligrams a day for everyone, and that people with heart issues or those prone to fluid retention should pay closer attention to sodium content
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