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Nutrition label rounding rules
How each number on a US Nutrition Facts label is rounded, from 21 CFR 101.9. These are the rules LabelWhisk applies; each one has a unit test against the regulation's wording.
| What | Rule | 21 CFR 101.9 |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | Under 5: 0. Up to 50: nearest 5. Above 50: nearest 10. | (c)(1) |
| Total fat, saturated fat, trans fat | Under 0.5 g: 0. Under 5 g: nearest 0.5 g. 5 g and up: nearest 1 g. | (c)(2) |
| Cholesterol | Under 2 mg: 0. 2 to 5 mg: "less than 5 mg". Above 5 mg: nearest 5 mg. | (c)(3) |
| Sodium | Under 5 mg: 0. 5 to 140 mg: nearest 5 mg. Above 140 mg: nearest 10 mg. | (c)(4) |
| Total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, total sugars, added sugars, protein | Under 0.5 g: 0. Under 1 g: "less than 1 gram" (printed "<1g"). 1 g and up: nearest 1 g. | (c)(6), (c)(7) |
| %DV of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fiber, added sugars | Nearest 1%. | (d)(7)(ii) |
| %DV of vitamin D, calcium, iron, potassium | Under 2%: may be 0. Up to 10%: nearest 2%. Up to 50%: nearest 5%. Above 50%: nearest 10%. | (c)(8)(iii) |
| Amounts of vitamin D, calcium, iron, potassium | Vitamin D to 0.1 mcg, calcium to 10 mg, iron to 0.1 mg, potassium to 10 mg (FDA guidance). | (c)(8)(iii) |
| Serving size in grams | Under 2 g: nearest 0.1 g. 2 to 5 g: nearest 0.5 g. 5 g and up: nearest 1 g. | (b)(7)(ii) |
| Servings per container | Nearest whole number; 2 to 5 servings to the nearest 0.5. Write "About" when rounded. | (b)(8)(i) |
Round the exact amount, not a rounded one
Start from the exact amount per serving and round once. Rounding earlier, per ingredient or per 100 g, and then scaling to the serving adds the rounding errors together and can push a value across one of the thresholds above: saturated fat that is really 0.46 g a serving should be declared as 0 g, but if an earlier step rounded it up to 0.5 g the label would say 0.5 g with a %DV.
Where the regulation leaves a choice
"0" or "less than". For cholesterol between 2 and 5 mg, and for carbohydrate, fiber, sugars and protein under 1 g, the regulation allows "less than" statements. LabelWhisk prints "<5mg" and "<1g".
%DV from the exact or the rounded amount. 101.9(d)(7)(ii) allows either. LabelWhisk divides the rounded amount, so a line that says "0g" never shows a percent next to it, and uses the exact amount for "<" lines, which have no rounded number.
Vitamins and minerals at under 2% DV. They may be declared as 0, which LabelWhisk does, printing "0mcg" or "0mg" with "0%".
Daily Values
For foods for adults and children 4 years and older, from 101.9(c)(8)(iv) and (c)(9). The %DV for protein is only required in some cases (a protein claim, or foods for young children) and needs the protein's digestibility score, so it's usually left off.
| Nutrient | Daily Value |
|---|---|
| Total fat | 78 g |
| Saturated fat | 20 g |
| Cholesterol | 300 mg |
| Sodium | 2,300 mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 275 g |
| Dietary fiber | 28 g |
| Added sugars | 50 g |
| Protein | 50 g |
| Vitamin D | 20 mcg |
| Calcium | 1,300 mg |
| Iron | 18 mg |
| Potassium | 4,700 mg |
Trans fat and total sugars have no Daily Value and no %DV.
See these rules applied step by step in how to make a nutrition label, or fill them into the blank template.
Let the rules apply themselves
LabelWhisk applies every rule on this page to your recipe and shows the label before you pay.