The per 100g nutritional panel

Including the nutritional panel is not yet required by law. This flexibility allows small producers to bottle up batches of jams and sauces without having to go to the expense of the laboratory analysis which large manufacturers perform routinely.

But the information is provided voluntarily on almost all products which have been processed and packaged. If it is included then legislation is in place to insist that all the key macronutrients are shown as an amount per 100 grams, or per 100g. The minimum information provided must include:

Energy expressed in kilojoules or kilocalories (commonly referred to as just calories)

• Total protein in grams per 100g
• Total carbohydrates in grams per 100g
• Total fats in grams per 100g

Manufacturers who make a nutritional claim on their product, such as “reduced fat” or “a good source of vitamin C”, must supply information to back up their claim. Often food packs will carry extra information, such as different types of fat per 100g, even if a claim has not been made including:

• How much of the carbohydrate comes from sugar in grams
• How much of the fat in grams is from saturated fats
• Total fibre in grams
• Total sodium in grams
• The salt equivalent of the sodium in grams

Some go further still and add information on starch content and the contribution from monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats too

In addition to the nutritional analysis given per 100g, you may also be given the same nutrient per pack or per serving. Finally, many providers also add a column reminding us of the Guideline Daily Amounts of each nutrient for an average adult female in the UK.

The nutritional panel can allow a fast and fair comparison between similar products, for example, two cartons of soup, two cereal bars or two loaves of bread. However, you will need to spend some time reading a site like this in order to determine whether a particular product makes a useful part of your diet.