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J. Lynne Brown, PhD, RD Responds:
J. Lynne Brown, PhD, RD, associate professor of food science at Pennsylvania State University, responds: The DV (Daily Value) is the amount of a nutrient (total fat, fiber, carbohydrates, calcium, and so on) that you should consume daily to remain healthy, based on values established by the FDA.
The % DV on food labels is the amount of nutrient supplied by one serving of product compared with the amount of nutrient recommended for adults each day. In other words, it's the percentage of the recommended nutrient amount supplied by one serving. Check % DV on the nutrition labels of foods you eat. Then add up the percentages you have consumed over a day and see how close you come to 100%. Keep in mind that the standards used on Nutrition Facts panels are based on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet for adults.
The best way to use the DV is by comparing two foods (such as two types of cookies). For nutrients you don't want to overdo, choose the one with the lower % DV for fat and saturated fat. For nutrients you want more of (fiber, calcium, vitamins), choose the higher % DV and try to get to 100% based on all your food choices for the day.
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J. Lynne Brown
PhD, RD
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