Methodology used to modernize the reference amounts customarily consumed/serving size for the nutrition facts label

Abstract

The serving size declaration has been an important feature of the Nutrition Facts label since its establishment in 1993, helping consumers compare nutrient values among similar products. Serving sizes must be presented in household measurements based on the Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed (RACCs) per eating occasion for about 140 product categories. RACCs reflect consumption amounts by three age groups in the U.S. population, infants 0 to 12 months, young children 1 through 3 years of age, and individuals aged 4 years and older. Since 1993, these consumption amounts have shown changes. We examined the changes in consumption patterns based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2008, to determine if the 1993 RACCs needed to be amended. Three steps were used in this evaluation process: (1) we determined whether there was an adequate sample size to estimate a current reliable median consumption amount for the product; (2) we determined if the current reliable median consumption amount was significantly different from the 1993 RACCs (at least a 25% difference based on 95% confidence intervals); and (3) we then considered additional factors in a systematic approach. Generally, comparable products, when available, should have similar RACCs, for consumers to compare nutrient values among these products. Twenty RACCs of 45 foods were amended using this methodology.