Product Name: Cheez Whiz/ Cheese Spread
Question 1: Does the packaging make any nutrient claims (chapter 2, pages 49-55)?
Yes.
| Nutrition Facts | ||
| Calories 45 | (188 kJ) | |
| Calories from fat 32 | ||
| % Daily Value 1 | ||
| Total Fat | 3.5g | 5% |
| Sat. Fat | 0.8g | 4% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | |
| Cholesterol | 3mg | < 1% |
| Sodium | 220mg | 9% |
| Total Carbs. | 2g | < 1% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Sugars | 1g | |
| Protein | 1.5g | |
| Calcium | 50mg | |
Question 2: Does the packaging make any health claims? (see chapter 2, page 54)
No. This is because it is a processed cheese spread for topping in other foods.
Question 3: What is the first ingredient listed on the ingredient label?
Whey
Question 4: What is the importance of how ingredients are listed on the label?
These ingredients are listed from the most essential ingredient to the preservative to illustrate the most useful ingredient in the processing of the product. In addition, the listing shows the ingredient that is used in large quantities than the rest.
SERVING SIZE and SERVINGS PER CONTAINER
Question 5: What is a Serving Size as defined by the manufacturer for this product?
The product is sold in a narrow jar with a tapered narrower base. It is used as a spread, a dip, or a sauce. There are however larger jars and more of squat-cylindrical shape. These include:
Cheez Whiz: 18 oz
Cheez Whiz Light: 15.5 oz
Original Cheese Dip: 45 oz
Question 6: How many servings are in this product’s container/package/bag/box etc.?
Approximately 25 servings since in one serving, the tablespoon contains the 0.6 oz content.
Question 7: How many calories per serving? 45 calories
How many fat calories per serving? 32
Question 8: How many servings do you think a “typical consumer” might eat of this product?
Since it can be used as a spread and as a dip, a typical consumer may serve twice.
Question 9: If you eat the entire contents of this container/package/bag/box etc., how many calories will you consume?
45 Calories
CALCULATE PERCENT CALORIES FROM FAT
Calculation: (Calories from fat ÷ Total Calories) X 100 = % calories from fat
Question 10: Percentage of calories from fat =
68.5%
Question 11: What are trans fats?
These are a form of processed fats, which raise the bad cholesterol level
Hydrogenated fats are the unnatural fats that are risky to personal health. Since they are saturated, these fats are capable of damaging the cells.
Question 12: What are the percent calories from trans fats?
1% of the total daily calories required. Is a person required 2,000 calories a day, only 20 calories should be from the trans fats.
Question 13: The recommended intake for fat is <35% of total calories. Does your product meet this recommendation? Yes. It has 5% 3.5 g
CALCIUM
The Daily Value for calcium = 1,000 mg
Question 14: What is the % Daily Value of calcium in this product (per serving) = 6 %
Calculate milligrams of calcium per serving
Calculation: % Daily Value (convert to decimal or fraction e.g. 6% → .06 or →6/100) X 1000 mg
Question 15: Milligrams (mg) of calcium per serving in this product = 60 mg
FIBER
The Daily Value for fiber is 25 g
Question 16: How many grams of fiber in one serving of this product? 0 g
Question 17: If you consume 2 servings of this product, how many more grams of fiber would you need to consume in order to meet the Daily Value for fiber? 25 g
Question 18: What does fortified mean?
Having additional nutrients for more benefits in the body
Is this product fortified? Yes
If yes, list ALL vitamins and/or minerals.
Vitamin C: 0.1 mg
Calcium: 57.4 mg
Iron: 0 mg
Phosphorus: 129 mg
Zinc: 0.3 mg
Riboflavin: 0 mg, which translates to 3%
Question 19: Is this product enriched?
Yes. Presently, there is a diverse variety of the product from the original form
Question 20: What is the carbohydrate content in the package? 1.5 g and 0%
Question 21: What are the terms that describe sugar on your label…look at the ingredient list and explain the terms.
There is the mention of sugars that translates to 1g only.
Question 22: Is your product made from whole wheat, refined flour or enriched flour?
The product is made from milk and associated ingredients.
Question 23: Explain the difference between whole wheat and refined flour (see Ch.4).
Whole wheat refers to the flour with its natural vitamins such as folate and vitamins since it has not undergone any refining processes.
Refined flour refers to the flour that has been stripped of its bran and germ thereby making it deficient in nutrients.
Discussion: Please provide depth and detail to earn full credit.
Were you surprised with what you discovered about this product? How so?
I was surprised with the content of the product since all along I had assumed that it contains cheese as a natural product only to find that the cheese as no ingredient had been removed. Besides this, the product provided all the required calories for a day with just two servings. This is news to me since the product is more of a spread than a main meal.
Do you believe most consumers read and understand food labels? Why or why not?
Most consumers do not read and understand the food labels since come of the labels are written in small fonts making it difficult to recognize. Furthermore, when consumers shop, they tend to go through the shelf in a hurry. This makes them not realize the need to read the food labels. If those who read the labels fail to understand since limited public understand their daily requirement. This makes it difficult for them to understand the label even if they go through it.
How do you believe food labels could be improved?
The food labels can be improved by ensuring that they are written in visible fonts and that all the ingredients are written with a common name.