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In recent years, the people of Taiwan have gained an increased understanding on nutrition and health consciousness. Many developed countries have also implemented a nutrition labeling system for packaged food. The nutrition labeling regulations of Taiwan are henceforth established in order to meet consumers’ demands, foster their knowledge of nutrition labeling and provide them with information required when purchasing packaged food.
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A nutrition claim refers to any representation which states, suggests or implies that a food product has particular nutrition properties (e.g. rich in vitamin A, high calcium, low sodium, cholesterol-free, high fiber, etc.). However, a description of the ingredients contained in a food product (e.g., the food product contains such ingredients as maltodextrin, corn oil, lecithin, calcium carbonate, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin B2 and vitamin D3, etc.) is not a nutrition claim.
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3.
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The nutrition labeling for a packaged food on the market shall provide the following information shown at a conspicuous place of the outer package or container of the product:
1) Items of labeling
a) Title of the "Nutrition labeling"
b) Energy contents
c) Amount of protein, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, carbohydrate and sodium contained (note that the carbohydrate herein includes dietary fiber)
d) Contents of other nutrients declared in the nutrition claim
e) Contents of other nutrients labeled by the manufacturer voluntarily
2) With respect to the amount of energy and nutrients contained, the labeling value for solid (semi-solid) food shall be expressed in units of 100 grams or grams per serving, and for liquid food (drinks), in units of 100 milliliters or milliliters per serving. If the value is expressed on per serving basis, the number of servings contained in each package of the product shall also be specified.
3) Labeling unit for the contents of energy, nutrients and trans fat:
The amount of energy contained in a food product shall be expressed in kcal, that of protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate and trans fat in gram, that of sodium in milligram, and that of other nutrients in gram, milligram or microgram whatever being appropriate.
4) Daily Value of Nutrient Intake:
Each nutrient may further be expressed in percentage of Daily Value of Nutrient Intake, though the following numerical value shall serve as the basis of and shall be noted as the Daily Value of Nutrient Intake:
Daily Value of Nutrient Intake
| Nutrient |
Value
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| Energy |
2000 Kcal
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| Protein |
60 gram
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| Fat |
55 gram
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| Carbohydrate |
320 gram
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| Sodium |
2400 mg
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| Saturated fatty acids |
18 gram
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| Cholesterol |
300 mg
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| Dietary fiber |
20 gram
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| Vitamin A |
600 mcg
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| Vitamin B1 |
1.4 mg
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| Vitamin B2 |
1.6 mg
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| Vitamin C |
60 mg
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| Vitamin E |
12 mg
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| Calcium |
800 mg
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| Iron |
15 mg
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5) Rule of rounding-off: Nutrients shall be expressed in not more than three significant figures and each serving, contents of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate and sodium shall be expressed in integer or to the first place of decimal.
6) The nutrient contents of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, sodium, saturated fat, sugars and trans fat may be labeled as "0" if it meets the criteria in the following chart: trans fat refers to edible oils that become non-conjugated fatty acids after partial hydrogenation.
Nutrient Criteria for being labeled as "0"
| Nutrient |
Criteria for being labeled as "0" |
| Energy |
Nutrient content is less than 4 Kcal for 100 gram of solid (semi-solid) food or 100 ml of liquid food |
| Protein |
Nutrient content is less than 0.5 gram for 100 gram of solid (semi-solid) food or 100 ml of liquid food |
| Fat |
| Carbohydrate |
| Sodium |
Nutrient content is less than 5 mg for 100 gram of solid (semi-solid) food or 100 ml of liquid food |
| Saturated fatty acids |
Nutrient content is less than 0.1 gram for 100 gram of solid (semi-solid) food or 100 ml of liquid food |
| Trans fat |
Nutrient content is less than 0.3 gram for 100 gram of solid (semi-solid) food or 100 ml of liquid food |
| Sugar |
Nutrient content is less than 0.5 gram for 100 gram of solid (semi-solid) food or 100 ml of liquid food |
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