Who is the dietary reference intake for

Are you getting enough calcium and vitamin D? You might also be wondering about the Daily Value, or DV, which is found on the Nutrition Facts label of any packaged food or drink. The DV helps you understand the nutrient content of food. For example, the DV for calcium is 1, mg. If you add up the DVs of calcium you eat throughout the day, you'll have a general idea of how much calcium you got that day. Compare that to your RDA for calcium, based on your age and gender. Then you'll know if your calcium intake was enough or even if it was too much, which might be a concern if you not only eat enough calcium but also take a calcium supplement.

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High in fat: more than High in saturates: more than 5g of saturates per g Low in saturates: 1. High in sugars: more than High in salt: more than 1.

So, for example, if you're trying to cut down on sugar, you should eat fewer foods that have more than If you want to eat less saturated fats, it's best to choose fewer foods that have more than 5g of saturates per g.

The "traffic-light" style colour coding on the front of food packs helps you see at a glance whether a food is high red , medium amber or low green in fat, saturated fat, sugars or salt.

Read more about red, amber and green colour coding. Page last reviewed: 8 June Next review due: 8 June Reference intakes explained - Eat well Secondary navigation Food and diet Nutrition and food groups Eating a balanced diet 8 tips for healthy eating The Eatwell Guide Food labels Food labelling terms Reference intakes on food labels Starchy foods and carbohydrates Dairy and alternatives Meat in your diet Fish and shellfish The healthy way to eat eggs Beans and pulses Water, drinks and your health Eating processed foods.

Find details on how the DRIs are developed. Find applications in dietary assessment and planning. Macronutrients - including general and specific resources on carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, fats and cholesterol, water, as well as interactive tools. Phytonutrients - including general information, government-related sites, and resources on specific phytonutrients such as tea, lycopene, and phytoestrogens. Vitamins and Minerals - including general information as well as resources for specific vitamins and minerals.