Reading food labels — Health, 11–13 years
Food packaging gives clues for comparing products and making informed choices. The useful skill is reading amounts per portion and per 100 grams, rather than trusting the front of the packet.
The numbers behind the packet
A food label tells you what is in a product and how much of it there is. The front may use words such as “light” or “natural”, but the table gives numbers you can compare. Look especially at energy, sugar, salt and portion size.
Why compare per 100 grams?
Packages are rarely the same size, and companies can choose different serving sizes. Comparing the values per 100 grams puts foods on the same scale. It solves the problem of a tiny “serving” making a product look healthier than it is.
A fair comparison
Cereal A has 12 g of sugar per 40 g portion, while cereal B has 8 g per 30 g. First convert: A is 30 g per 100 g, and B is about 27 g per 100 g. B has slightly less sugar by weight, even though its packet gives a smaller portion.
The front is not the whole story
It is easy to assume that a product called “healthy” must be the best choice. That is reasonable because packaging is designed to highlight positive features. Check the full table and ingredients instead; one attractive claim cannot describe the whole food.
Shopping with better questions
Labels are useful when comparing two yoghurts, breads or snack bars in a shop. They do not tell you whether a food is morally good or bad, and they cannot replace varied meals. They simply give evidence for a choice that fits your needs and the situation.
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