Daily Value -- The basis for declaring nutrient content.DVs actually comprise two sets of reference values for nutrients: Daily Reference Values, or DRVs, and Reference Daily Intakes, or RDIs. But these two sets are "behind the scenes" in food labeling; only the Daily Value term will appear on the label to make label reading less confusing. The Daily Value term is the only one of the terms that will be used in the government's food labeling education campaign. The DV term is the one expected to be used by consumers and professionals. FDA-regulated products began using the Daily Value as the basis for declaring nutrient content on May 8, 1994. U.S. Department of Agriculture-regulated products--meat and poultry started July 6, 1994. The move to Daily Values is due in large part to the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990. Among other things, the law requires nutrition label information to be conveyed in a way that enables the public to observe and comprehend the information readily and to understand its relative significance in the context of a total daily diet. The DV does that in two ways: First, it serves as a basis for declaring on the label the percent of the Daily Value for each nutrient that a serving of the food provides. For example, the Daily Value for fat, based on a 2,000-calorie diet, is 65 grams (g). A food that has 13 g of fat per serving would state on the label that the "percent Daily Value" for fat is 20 percent. Second, it provides a basis for thresholds that define descriptive words for nutrient content, called descriptors, such as "high fiber" and "low fat." For example, the descriptor "high fiber" can be used if a serving of food provides 20 percent or more of the Daily Value for fiber--that is, 5 g or more. What it is not intended to do is tell people what amounts of nutrients they should eat every day. They're not recommended intakes. They're really just reference points to help people get some kind of perspective on what their overall daily dietary needs should be. New References Although they won't show up on the label, DRVs and RDIs have an important regulatory role. They serve as the basis for calculating percent Daily Values. DRVs are for nutrients for which no set of standards previously existed, such as fat and cholesterol. RDIs, on the other hand, replace the term "U.S. RDAs" (Recommended Daily Allowances), which were introduced in 1973 as a reference value for vitamins, minerals and protein in voluntary nutrition labeling. Despite the name change, the actual values (except the value for protein) will remain the same--at least for the time being. FDA will consider revising these values in the near future. U.S. RDAs should not be confused with RDAs. The latter are short for Recommended Dietary Allowances, which are set by the National Academy of Sciences. FDA used the RDAs as the basis for setting U.S. RDAs (now called RDIs). The confusion caused by the similarity of those terms was one of the reasons for the switch to RDI. DRVs DRVs for the energy-producing nutrients (fat, carbohydrate, protein, and fiber) are based on the number of calories consumed per day. For labeling purposes, 2,000 calories has been established as the reference for calculating percent Daily Values. This level was chosen, in part, because many health experts say it approximates the maintenance calorie requirements of the group most often targeted for weight reduction: postmenopausal women. Also, unlike the 2,350-calorie reference that FDA used in its proposal, 2,000 calories is a rounded number, which makes it easier for consumers to calculate their individual nutrient needs. The label will include--at least on larger packages--a footnote on the nutrition panel in which daily values for selected nutrients for both a 2,000- and a 2,500-calorie diet are listed. Manufacturers have the option of listing daily values for other calorie levels, if label space allows and as long as the Daily Values for the other two levels are also listed. Whatever the calorie level, DRVs for the energy-producing nutrients are always calculated as follows: Thus, someone who consumes 3,000 calories a day--a teenage boy, for example--would have a recommended intake for fat of 100 g or less per day. [0.30 times 3,000 = 900; 900 (calories) divided by 9 (calories per g of fat) = 100 g]. The DRVs for cholesterol, sodium and potassium, which do not contribute calories, remain the same whatever the calorie level. Because of the links between certain nutrients and certain diseases, DRVs for some nutrients represent the uppermost limit that is considered desirable. Eating too much fat or cholesterol, for example, has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Too much sodium can heighten the risk of high blood pressure in some people. RDIs Replace U.S. RDAs Unlike DRVs, which are a new concept, many consumers may already have a good idea of what the RDIs are. That's because the RDIs (the former U.S. RDAs used by FDA) have been around for almost 20 years as the established estimated values for vitamins, minerals and protein. Although consumers will continue to see vitamins and minerals expressed as percentages on the label, these percentages now refer to the Daily Values. Getting to Know DVs Like any new concept, DVs may take some getting used to but, through education and practice; FDA and USDA believe it soon will become second nature to many consumers. Return from Daily Value to All Day Energy
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