AskDrSears Logo
homeabout searsbooksnewsletterfaqsresourcesnewsstorecontact us
what's newregular featurespediatric newsDoctor's Diaries


Search


pregnancy & childbirth
breastfeeding
bottlefeeding
feeding infants & toddlers
family nutrition
discipline & behavior
fussy babies
sleep problems
childhood illnesses
medicine cabinet
a to z index
GoFish Omega 3 DHA Attachment Parenting Vaccines Lean Skin Care






 


FAQ's

AskDrSears.com - "READING FOOD LABELS"
READING FOOD LABELS
"Could you tell me how to calculate the percent of sugar in an item by looking at the nutrition label? Thank you in advance for your assistance. - Food Service Director"

Yea! A math question! This is actually quite easy if you are used to doing “word problems” in math class (might need to ask your kids for help). First, look at the label and see how many grams a serving size is, we’ll call this number T for total. Then see how many grams of sugar are in each serving, we’ll call this number S. Then plug these numbers into this equation: S divided by T, and then multiply by 100. This will give you the percentage you are looking for. First, let’s do an easy example. Suppose the total serving is 100 grams, and the grams of sugar per serving is 5. You can probably do this one in your head: the answer is 5%. Let’s try a harder one: Organic spaghetti sauce (it was sitting on my counter…): the label reads serving size: ˝ cup (125g). Sugars per serving: 8g. So, S=8, T=125. 8 divided by 125= 0.064 ---- multiply by 100= 6.4%. Squeezable grape jelly: T=20g, S=13g……. Wow! 65% sugar! Into the trash it goes. Click here to learn more about food package labels.

Dr. Jim

   
Home | About Sears | Books | Newsletter | FAQs | Resources | News | Store | Contact Us | Site Map | Privacy Policy
Affiliate Network
   

AskDrSears.com is intended to help parents become better informed consumers of health care. The information presented in this site gives general advice on parenting and health care. Always consult your doctor for your individual needs.

© Copyright 2006 AskDrSears.com. All Rights Reserved.