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Nutrient Dense

This icon means that a product that provides a healthy dose of beneficial nutrients relative to a low number of calories. This eliminates your need to decipher the Nutrition Facts labels!

We’ve calculated which products get this icon by using the following criteria on a per-serving basis: 

Meals & Main Dishes
  • Contains 10% or more daily value of at least two of these essential nutrients: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, folate, potassium, fiber and protein. 
  • Contains less than or equal to 500 calories, with less than 10% of its calories coming from added sugar – Only New Nutrition Facts Panels will qualify.
  • Meets FDA disclosure levels for Meals/Main Dishes (no more than 19.5 g total fat, 6 g sat fat, 720 mg sodium, and 90 mg cholesterol)
  • Contains less than 7 grams of saturated fat and 600 milligrams of sodium. 
Individual Items (Snacks and Sides)
  • Contains 10% or more daily value of at least two of these essential nutrients: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, folate, potassium, fiber and protein.
  • Contains less than or equal to 220 calories, with less than 15% of its calories coming from added sugar – Only New Nutrition Facts Panels will qualify.
  • Meets FDA disclosure levels for Meals/Main Dishes (no more than 13 g total fat, 4 g sat fat, 480 mg sodium, and 60 mg cholesterol).
Individual Items (Snacks and Sides Whole Grain – this applies to grain-based products such as breads, cereals, crackers, etc.)
  • Contains 10% or more daily value of at least two of these essential nutrients: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, folate, potassium, fiber and protein.
  • Contains less than or equal to 220 calories, with less than 15% of its calories coming from added sugar – Only New Nutrition Facts Panels will qualify.
  • Meets FDA disclosure levels for Meals/Main Dishes (no more than 13 g total fat, 4 g sat fat, 480 mg sodium, and 60 mg cholesterol)
  • Whole Grain (on in the case of pasta, is either whole grain or vegetable/legume based)
Beverages
  • Contains 10% or more daily value of at least two of these essential nutrients: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, folate, potassium, fiber and protein.
  • Contains less than or equal to 140 calories per 8 oz. serving size.
  • Contains less than 5 grams of added sugar – Only New Nutrition Facts Panels will qualify.
  • Meet FDA disclosure levels (no more than 13 g total fat, 4 g sat fat, 480 mg sodium, and 60 mg cholesterol).

More Goodness in Fewer Bites

Check out this fun, animated short that simplifies what we mean when we say Nutrient Dense.

watch video on nutrient dense