Understanding Nutritional Labelling | Uncle Tobys (2024)

The inside story on what's in your food

Ingredients lists, nutrition labels, Health Star Ratings – when it comes to getting nutrition information from food labels, there’s a lot to figure out! We'll help you understand the different tools and how they can help you make choices to suit the needs of you and your family.

Eating better is easier with Health Star Ratings

The Health Star Ratings (HSR) system is a simple way to make healthier food choices. The government, industry, public health and consumer groups created the HSR to compare the nutrition value of foods in the same category, and score them from ½ a star to 5 stars. The higher the number of stars, the healthier the food.

So how does the HSR system work?

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Let’s say you’re looking for a lunchbox snack. Just compare two products in the same category, like muesli bars. If one has just 1½ stars and the other has 4 stars, the 4 stars one is the healthier option. And Uncle Tobyshas Australia’s largest range of 4 star muesli bars.

If you’re choosing a breakfast cereal, compare the number of stars on the labels of products within the breakfast aisle. All Uncle Tobys cereals have an HSR of 4 stars or more.

Remember, the HSR system works best when comparing products within the same category – a 4-star yoghurt isn’t the same as a 4-star cereal.

How products earn their stars

Each product’s HSR is determined by calculating its food components – energy, saturated fat, sugars, sodium (salt), protein and dietary fibre, and the vegetable, fruit, nut and legume content of the food. The amounts of these nutrients determine the number of stars for the product.

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We’re proud to have Australia’s largest range of breakfast cereals and muesli bars with an HSR of 4 stars or more.

Get to know the nutrition information panel

The Nutrition Information Panel is found on all packaged foods sold in Australia. It helps you to understand what nutrients are in the product, so you can choose the foods that’s best for your needs.

For example, the Nutrition Information Panel can help you select snacks or breakfast cereals with less saturated fat, sodium (salt), total sugars and kilojoules, and more fibre per serve. You can also use it to check the recommended serving size.

Understanding Nutritional Labelling | Uncle Tobys (2024)

FAQs

What is the 5/20 rule? ›

The 5/20 rule of nutrition can help guide grocery shoppers when looking at nutrition labels. It indicates that a 20% or more daily value of any nutrient is a high amount, while 5% or less is low. If you're looking for low sodium, for example, make sure the daily value is 5% or lower.

Are Uncle Toby's muesli bars healthy? ›

They are a source of whole grain and fibre, carry a 4.5 Health Star Rating. As part of a healthy varied diet.

What is the significance of the %dv (% daily value) on a nutrition label? ›

The %DV shows how much a nutrient in a serving of a food contributes to a total daily diet. The %DV helps you determine if a serving of food is high or low in a nutrient.

Is 24 grams of sugar a lot? ›

MD Anderson follows the American Heart Association recommendation that men should consume no more than 36 grams, or 9 teaspoons, of added sugar a day, while women should consume no more than 25 grams, or 6 teaspoons, of added sugar a day. MD Anderson dietitians recommend a diet rich in healthy, nutritious foods.

What are the big tHree to eat in moderation? ›

tHree for tHree: Eat smaller portions more often, spread evenly across the day. No excuses – you should be eating 4-6 meals/day! Aim for all three macronutrients (carbs, protein, and fat) every three hours for optimal fueling.

What to avoid in food labels? ›

7 Nutrition Label Ingredients to Avoid
  • Trans-Fat. ...
  • Partially Hydrogenated Oils. ...
  • High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) ...
  • Artificial Sweeteners such as Aspartame, Sucralose, and Saccharin. ...
  • Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Benzoate. ...
  • Sodium Nitrites and Sodium Nitrates. ...
  • MSG (monosodium glutamate)
Oct 4, 2016

Why don't total carbs add up? ›

In calculating net carbs, most manufacturers take the total number of carbohydrates a product contains and subtract fiber and sugar alcohols because these types of carbohydrates are thought to have a minimal impact on blood sugar levels.

What is the most important nutrient? ›

Water is probably the most important essential nutrient that a person needs. A person can only survive a few days without consuming water. Even slight dehydration can cause headaches and impaired physical and mental functioning. The human body is made up of mostly water, and every cell requires water to function.

Why are Uncle Toby's oats healthy? ›

Oats are a natural superfood because they're 100% wholegrain and contain vitamins and minerals. Oats not only contain fibre, they're one of the richest sources of beta-glucan, a soluble fibre that can help lower cholesterol reabsorption^. They're also low in sodium and provide protein and carbohydrates for energy.

Is Uncle Tobys plus good for you? ›

Uncle Tobys Plus Fibre is an excellent source of fibre for digestive balance and well-being#, providing over 20% of your daily fibre needs*. A delicious combination of apples, sultanas and whole grains, providing a bowl full of goodness that is nutritious and delicious! As part of a healthy varied diet.

How much sugar is in a Uncle Tobys bar? ›

How much sugar is in an Uncle Tobys muesli bar? Choose bars with lower added sugars for a more wholesome option. The total average amount of sugar in the Uncle Tobys muesli bars ranges from 4.1g to 5.8g per bar – that's between 1 and 1 ¾ teaspoons per serve.

What is the 5/20 rule of nutrition? ›

Use the 5-20 Rule

If the % DV is 5 or less then it is low in that nutrient, If the% DV is 20% or more then it is high in that nutrient. The %DV is based on a 2,000- calorie diet – your needs might be more or less than this.

Which two nutrients never list a daily value on the label? ›

Protein generally has no percent Daily Value (%DV) listed on the label, so use the number of grams (g) as a guide. Trans fat and total sugars have no percent Daily Value (%DV), so use the number of grams (g) to compare and choose foods.

Which three foods are lowest in saturated fat? ›

Choose ingredients for these dishes that are low in saturated fats — like vegetables, whole grains, low-fat and fat-free dairy products, most oils, and lean cuts of meats and poultry.

What is the 5 20 rule simplified? ›

Basically, it's just a quick guideline to use when you look at those percentages to determine how a food might fit into your daily dietary goals. Any nutrient listed as 5 percent or less of the Daily Value is considered low. Any listed as 20 percent or more of the Daily Value is considered high.

What's the difference between added sugar and natural sugar? ›

Naturally occurring sugars are found naturally in foods such as fruit (fructose) and milk (lactose). Added sugars include any sugars or caloric sweeteners that are added to foods or beverages during processing or preparation (such as putting sugar in your coffee or adding sugar to your cereal).

Does eating the serving size help you lose weight? ›

Research has shown that people almost always eat more food when offered larger portions. So portion control is important when you're trying to lose weight and keep it off. A portion is the amount of food you put on your plate.

Do you need 100% daily value of vitamins? ›

100% daily value represents the minimum amount to prevent symptoms of clinical deficiency, not the amount needed to promote optimum health.

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