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FDA Regulations on Caloric Content

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designed a formulated system for evaluating caloric content of food provided by U.S. wholesalers. This system is intended to provide detailed nutritional information to consumers and to regulate the quality and nutritional content of free and reduced-price lunch meals in public schools.

  1. Definitions

    • According to standards posted by the FDA in April 2008, calorie-free foods must contain fewer than 5 calories per reference amount customarily consumed (RACC) or per labeled serving. Low-calorie foods must contain 40 or fewer calories per RACC. Low-calorie meals and main dishes contain 120 or fewer calories per 100 g. Manufacturers can label foods that contain 25% fewer calories than an appropriate reference food or meals and main dishes that contain 25% fewer calories per 100 g than an appropriate reference meal as reduced or less fat.

    Food Labeling

    • The FDA has established guidelines for where and how manufacturers must display nutritional information, including calories per serving and percentage of calories from fat, on all food packaging. The principle display panel must be large enough to contain all of the required information clearly and without distraction from other decorative elements of the package. Guidelines are based on the size and shape of the package or product but in general require that 40% of the outside surface be devoted to nutritional information.

    School Lunches

    • Minimum caloric contents for school lunches provided through the federal free and reduced-price lunch program are defined by school grade. According to FDA guidelines, preschool children should consume at least 517 calories at lunchtime, children in kindergarten through grade 6 at least 664 calories and students in grades 7 through 12 at least 825 calories. Calories from fat should not exceed 30% over a school week, and calories from saturated fats must be less than 10% over the school week. These guidelines provide an average requirement that can be broken down through optional limits by age.

    Smart Choices Program

    • The Smart Choices Program is a voluntary front-of-package (FOP) labeling system developed by the American Society for Nutrition and NSF International. The system engages a unique check mark and a simplified display of calorie content per serving and number of servings per package to assist the consumer. The FDA observed, but did not participate in, the development of these markings, which on occasion conflict slightly with the required government-regulated labeling on the package. Ongoing consumer research is underway within the FDA to monitor the impact of Smart Choices Program on healthy consumer choices.

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