Serving Size on the Nutrition Facts Label

The Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods and drinks makes it easier for you to make informed choices.

Read on to learn more about Serving Size.

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Start with Serving Information

First, look at the serving size and the number of servings per container, which are at the top of the label. The serving size is shown as a common household measure that is appropriate to the food (such as cup, tablespoon, piece, slice, or jar), followed by the metric amount in grams (g).

The nutrition information listed on the Nutrition Facts label is usually based on one serving of the food; however, some containers may also have information displayed per package.

Understand Serving Sizes

By law, serving sizes must be based on the amount of food people typically consume, rather than how much they should consume. Serving sizes reflect the amount people typically eat and drink.

Here are a few other things about serving sizes to keep in mind:

• The serving size is not a recommendation of how much to eat or drink.
• One package of food may contain more than one serving.
• Some containers may also have a label with two columns—one column listing the amount of calories and nutrients in one serving and the other column listing this information for the entire package. Packages with “dual-column” labels let you know how many calories and nutrients you are getting if you eat or drink the entire package at one time.

Putting Serving Sizes Into Action

In the example below, one serving of lasagna is one cup. If you ate two cups, you would be consuming two servings and two times the calories and nutrients shown on the Nutrition Facts label. Pay attention to the serving size, especially how many servings there are in the food package. Then you might ask yourself, “How many servings am I eating or drinking?”

One Serving
of Lasagna

Two Serving
of Lasagna