How to read labels?
Become a Food Label Detective!
Learning notebook
Funded by the European Union (ID: 101079938). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Awards
Your mission is to learn how to read food labels to find out what's really in the food. Each stage you pass will bring you closer to the amazing final prize. Are you ready to start? Use the loupe to start the game.
Welcome, Food Detectives!
Awards
Mission phases
Nutri-Score
Complete each stage to unlock the next one.
Nutritional information (Part 2)
Ingredients
Sugar camouflage?
Nutritional information (Part 1)
Awards
The ingredients are ordered from the largest to the smallest amount, so the first ingredients are those that predominate in the product.
PHASE 1
ingredients
When reading the list of ingredients on a product label, there is one essential trick that will help you understand what you are really buying!
Awards
What do you think is the first ingredient we should avoid in a healthy diet?
mmm
Water
Sugar
Fiber
Protein
Awards
In general, it is advisable to avoid products that have as first ingredients: Sugar: Ideally, it should not be among the first ingredients, or better yet, it should not appear at all. Salt and refined flours: Indicate low nutritional quality. Unhealthy fats such as refined oils (sunflower, palm, turnip) or TRANS fats (which appear as “hydrogenated vegetable oils” or “partially hydrogenated”).
That's it!
Exactly!
Awards
Look for the first ingredient you would expect to see in that type of product. For example, a “grated cheese” should have cheese as the first ingredient, not water or oils. A product labelled “pasta cheese” but with first ingredients such as water and coconut butter followed by potato starch, It's not what it looks like
Aha and what else?
INTERESTING tip
Awards
Let's see this
Why should we avoid products with too many ingredients and additives?
Because additives are not safe
Because they are difficult to store
Because they are ultra-processed
Because they tend to have a lot of water
Awards
Very good!
It gets interesting
If a product has more than 5 ingredients, it may be an indicator of ultra-processing. Although additives are safe in themselves, their presence in large quantities may indicate that the food is ultra-processed. For example, if you see a long list of preservatives, colourings and stabilisers, Likely, the product is far from being natural.
Awards
Here we go!
PHASE 1 COMPLETED You have earned the Ingredient Loupe on your badges for this mission.
wonderful
You are already an experienced detective in ingredients
Awards
Mission phases
Nutri-Score
Complete each stage to unlock the next one.
Nutritional information (Part 2)
Ingredients
Sugar camouflage?
Nutritional information (Part 1)
Awards
The information on the labelling may look healthy, but it's based on one serving, not the whole packet. Let's look at a packet of dark chocolate almond cereal bars to see how many servings it has, the calories per serving and how many you would consume if you ate the whole packet.
It's key to making informed choices!
phase 2
Nutritional information (part 1)
In this phase we will learn how to interpret the portions per product on their nutrition labels.
Awards
Look closely at the label on the left. What is the size of a portion?
2 bars of 21 g
1 bar of 21 g
1 bar of 6 g
6 bars of 21 g
Awards
Look closely at the label on the left. If you eat 2 full bars, how many servings do you eat?
1 portion
3 portions
2 portions
6 portions
Awards
Look closely at the label on the left. How many servings are in the package?
21 portions
126 portions
1 portion
6 portions
Awards
¡Muy bien!
¡Seguimos con más!
¡Ya vas por la mitad! Estás aprendiendo mucho. Sigue fijándote en la etiqueta de información nutricional para completar esta fase. Una pista, concéntrate en las 5 primeras filas de la etiqueta.
Awards
Look closely at the label on the left. How many calories are in each serving?
21 calories
91 calories
6 calories
3,2 calories
Awards
Look closely at the label on the left. If you eat 3 full bars or 3 servings, how many calories would you be consuming?
21 calories
273 calories
91 calories
5 calories
Awards
Look closely at the label on the left. And if you eat the whole package (all the bars it contains), how many calories would you be consuming?
126 calories
546 calories
91 calories
273 calories
Awards
Look closely at the label on the left. And if you eat the whole package (all the bars it contains), how many calories would you be consuming?
126 calories
546 calories
91 calories
273 calories
Awards
What is “high in calories”? Generally speaking, more than 225 calories per 100g. But that doesn't mean it's bad: healthy foods like nuts, avocado or olive oil can exceed that value, and still be good!
great
We can also find the nutritional information with data per 100g of product: - It helps us to compare different products. - In this case, with only this data, we must calculate how much we will eat and adjust the data (making a rule of 3).
Aha
Awards
Here we go!
PHASE 2 REACHED You have obtained the Portions and Calories Loupe on your badges for this mission.
brillIant
You are already an experienced detective on product portions and calories.
Awards
Mission phases
Nutri-Score
Complete each stage to unlock the next one.
Nutritional information (Part 2)
ingredients
Camouflaged sugar?
Nutritional information (Part 1)
Awards
We will use as an example the package of cereal bars with chocolate and almonds, but instead of focusing on portions, we will look at how the label shows the nutrients.
PHASE 3
Nutritional information (part 2)
In this phase we will learn to interpret the nutrients (such as salt, sugar, fat, fiber and protein) of the products on their labels.
Awards
On the label, we see percentages (%) that tell us how much of a nutrient is in the product or food in relation to what an average adult needs to consume per day. If we are looking to reduce a specific nutrient, we will consider foods with less than 5% of its daily value. Conversely, a product should show 10-20% of its daily value if we are looking for a good nutrient source.
Awards
The label now shows the grams per nutrient per 100g. If a product has more than 1.25g of salt per 100g, it is considered high in salt. Ideally, consume no more than 5g of salt per day, and it is best to choose products with low salt (less than 0.25g per 100g). How do you rate the salt level of the packet of bars?
Low salt
High in salt
Unsalted
Too high in salt
Awards
If a product has more than 10g of sugar per 100g, it is considered high in sugar. Ideally, the added sugar content should be less than 5% of the product (<5/100g). How do you rate the sugar level of the pack of bars?
Low in sugar
High in sugar
No sugar
Reduced sugar
Awards
Fiber is essential for good digestion. A product is considered a source of fiber if it has more than 3g per 100g. If it has more than 6g per 100g, it is considered high in fiber. How do you rate the fiber level of the bar pack?
Low in fiber
Fiber source
High in fiber
Fiber free
Awards
A product with less than 30% fat (30/100g) is acceptable, but the most important thing is the quality of the fat. Olive oil and nuts are good sources of fat, while refined oils are not. How do you rate the level of fat in the packet of sticks and its quality if it comes mainly from palm oil?
Fat-free and good quality
Fat source
High in fat and poor quality
Acceptable in fat but of poor quality
Awards
What does “low fat” mean? When it has less than 3 g per 100g or less than 1.5 g per 100mL. In the case of “low in saturated fat” it must have less than 1.5g per 100g of saturated fat. What does “light” mean? It means that it has 30% less fat than similar products.
very very good
We are learning a lot
Awards
Yiiiijah
PHASE 3 FINISHED You have obtained the Nutrient Loupe in your badges for this mission.
EXCELLENT
You are already an experienced detective on the nutrients in the products.
Awards
Mission phases
Nutri-Score
Complete each stage to unlock the next one.
Nutritional information (Part 2)
Ingredients
Camouflaged sugar?
Nutritional information (Part 1)
Awards
In this section, we will learn to identify the different names that sugar can have, and some tricks to distinguish between natural and added sugar. This is key to avoid consuming more sugar than we think, because many times it is hidden!
phase 4
Camouflaged sugar?
Sugar does not always appear with the name “sugar” on labels. It is often disguised under different names or ingredients.
Awards
More camouflaged sugar: Natural sugars such as those present in fruits, honey or milk (lactose). Added sugars such as cane sugar, panela, or caramel, which do not come from the fruit directly but are added to sweeten products.
Sugar with different names: It can appear with endings such as “-ose” (e.g. glucose, fructose, maltose) or “-ine” (e.g. maltodextrin). It is also hidden in ingredients such as syrups (such as agave syrup or corn syrup).
Awards
What type of ingredient indicates the presence of camouflaged sugar on a product label?
mmm
Coconut oil
Mineral water
Corn syrup
Oat fiber
Awards
Which of the following is a “ camouflaged” name of sugar on a label?
mmm
Sea salt
Corn flour
Olive oil
Dextrose
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Difference between present and added sugar: Naturally occurring sugars (such as lactose in plain yogurt) are not problematic, but added sugar should be controlled. Beware of names such as “nectar”, or “syrup”!
Tip to identify added sugar: Compare products with their more natural version. For example, a plain yogurt has no added sugars, but a flavored yogurt or one with fruit pieces probably does. The same goes for tomato sauces and other foods.
Awards
Which of these products is most likely to contain added sugars?
mmm
Natural yogurt without sugar
Natural crushed tomato
Whole corn flour
Strawberry Yogurt with fruit control
Awards
Which of these ingredients is a form of added sugar?
mmm
Nectar
Soy protein
Oilves
Corn starch
Awards
This is running
PHASE 4 FINISHED You have obtained the Sugars Loupe hidden in your badges for this mission.
awesome
You are already an experienced detective on the hidden sugars in products.
Awards
Mission phases
Nutri-Score
Complete each stage to unlock the next one.
Nutritional information (Part 2)
Ingredients
Sugar camouflage?
Nutritional information (Part 1)
Awards
The idea is that you can quickly see which products are healthier within the same category. However, the Nutri-Score also has some limitations: it penalizes healthy fats (such as olive oil) and allows high scores on some ultra-processed products with sugar. Therefore, a new calculation of this index has now been implemented (end of 2023) and should be applied before the end of 2025.
PHASE 5
Nutri-Score
It is a system of front labeling on food products used by some countries to help consumers choose healthier products.
Awards
Which color represents the healthiest products in the Nutri-Score, if the healthiest letter is A?
mmm
Green
Yellow
Orange
Red
Awards
Previous index
What is the Nutri -Score mainly for?
To compare any food
To know if a product is ultra-processed
New index
To compare products in the same category
To eliminate unhealthy products from the stores
Olive oil
Awards
Olé
PHASE 5 COMPLETED You have obtained the Index Loupe in your badges for this mission.
fantastic
You are already an experienced detective in the nutritional indexes of products.
MISSION COMPLETED!
As a great food label detective you have earned the following loupe badges:
Click on the loupes to obtain the reward.
CONGRATULATIONS Detective!
As a reward for your hard work, you have unlocked a special award
🎁 Final Award: Reusable Shopping List Template
Download it, print it out and laminate it so you can mark what you need with an indelible marker. Then, take a picture of it with your cell phone when you go to the supermarket. When you're done, just wipe it off with alcohol and it's ready to use again on your next shopping trip!
Funded by the European Union (ID: 101079938). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
No te desanimes, ¡la misión aún no ha terminado! Tómate un momento para descansar y vuelve a intentarlo. Lee atentamente la pregunta. Recuerda que cada error es una oportunidad de aprendizaje. ¡Ánimo, valiente detective!
Ouch!
No te rindas
incluso los grandes detectives se enfrentaron a retos inesperados
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
No te desanimes, ¡la misión aún no ha terminado! Tómate un momento para descansar y vuelve a intentarlo. Lee atentamente la pregunta. Recuerda que cada error es una oportunidad de aprendizaje. ¡Ánimo, valiente detective!
Ouch!
No te rindas
incluso los grandes detectives se enfrentaron a retos inesperados
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
No te desanimes, ¡la misión aún no ha terminado! Tómate un momento para descansar y vuelve a intentarlo. Lee atentamente la pregunta. Recuerda que cada error es una oportunidad de aprendizaje. ¡Ánimo, valiente detective!
Ouch!
No te rindas
incluso los grandes detectives se enfrentaron a retos inesperados
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Food Label Detectives
David Jiménez Pavón
Created on November 25, 2024
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Transcript
How to read labels?
Become a Food Label Detective!
Learning notebook
Funded by the European Union (ID: 101079938). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Awards
Your mission is to learn how to read food labels to find out what's really in the food. Each stage you pass will bring you closer to the amazing final prize. Are you ready to start? Use the loupe to start the game.
Welcome, Food Detectives!
Awards
Mission phases
Nutri-Score
Complete each stage to unlock the next one.
Nutritional information (Part 2)
Ingredients
Sugar camouflage?
Nutritional information (Part 1)
Awards
The ingredients are ordered from the largest to the smallest amount, so the first ingredients are those that predominate in the product.
PHASE 1
ingredients
When reading the list of ingredients on a product label, there is one essential trick that will help you understand what you are really buying!
Awards
What do you think is the first ingredient we should avoid in a healthy diet?
mmm
Water
Sugar
Fiber
Protein
Awards
In general, it is advisable to avoid products that have as first ingredients: Sugar: Ideally, it should not be among the first ingredients, or better yet, it should not appear at all. Salt and refined flours: Indicate low nutritional quality. Unhealthy fats such as refined oils (sunflower, palm, turnip) or TRANS fats (which appear as “hydrogenated vegetable oils” or “partially hydrogenated”).
That's it!
Exactly!
Awards
Look for the first ingredient you would expect to see in that type of product. For example, a “grated cheese” should have cheese as the first ingredient, not water or oils. A product labelled “pasta cheese” but with first ingredients such as water and coconut butter followed by potato starch, It's not what it looks like
Aha and what else?
INTERESTING tip
Awards
Let's see this
Why should we avoid products with too many ingredients and additives?
Because additives are not safe
Because they are difficult to store
Because they are ultra-processed
Because they tend to have a lot of water
Awards
Very good!
It gets interesting
If a product has more than 5 ingredients, it may be an indicator of ultra-processing. Although additives are safe in themselves, their presence in large quantities may indicate that the food is ultra-processed. For example, if you see a long list of preservatives, colourings and stabilisers, Likely, the product is far from being natural.
Awards
Here we go!
PHASE 1 COMPLETED You have earned the Ingredient Loupe on your badges for this mission.
wonderful
You are already an experienced detective in ingredients
Awards
Mission phases
Nutri-Score
Complete each stage to unlock the next one.
Nutritional information (Part 2)
Ingredients
Sugar camouflage?
Nutritional information (Part 1)
Awards
The information on the labelling may look healthy, but it's based on one serving, not the whole packet. Let's look at a packet of dark chocolate almond cereal bars to see how many servings it has, the calories per serving and how many you would consume if you ate the whole packet. It's key to making informed choices!
phase 2
Nutritional information (part 1)
In this phase we will learn how to interpret the portions per product on their nutrition labels.
Awards
Look closely at the label on the left. What is the size of a portion?
2 bars of 21 g
1 bar of 21 g
1 bar of 6 g
6 bars of 21 g
Awards
Look closely at the label on the left. If you eat 2 full bars, how many servings do you eat?
1 portion
3 portions
2 portions
6 portions
Awards
Look closely at the label on the left. How many servings are in the package?
21 portions
126 portions
1 portion
6 portions
Awards
¡Muy bien!
¡Seguimos con más!
¡Ya vas por la mitad! Estás aprendiendo mucho. Sigue fijándote en la etiqueta de información nutricional para completar esta fase. Una pista, concéntrate en las 5 primeras filas de la etiqueta.
Awards
Look closely at the label on the left. How many calories are in each serving?
21 calories
91 calories
6 calories
3,2 calories
Awards
Look closely at the label on the left. If you eat 3 full bars or 3 servings, how many calories would you be consuming?
21 calories
273 calories
91 calories
5 calories
Awards
Look closely at the label on the left. And if you eat the whole package (all the bars it contains), how many calories would you be consuming?
126 calories
546 calories
91 calories
273 calories
Awards
Look closely at the label on the left. And if you eat the whole package (all the bars it contains), how many calories would you be consuming?
126 calories
546 calories
91 calories
273 calories
Awards
What is “high in calories”? Generally speaking, more than 225 calories per 100g. But that doesn't mean it's bad: healthy foods like nuts, avocado or olive oil can exceed that value, and still be good!
great
We can also find the nutritional information with data per 100g of product: - It helps us to compare different products. - In this case, with only this data, we must calculate how much we will eat and adjust the data (making a rule of 3).
Aha
Awards
Here we go!
PHASE 2 REACHED You have obtained the Portions and Calories Loupe on your badges for this mission.
brillIant
You are already an experienced detective on product portions and calories.
Awards
Mission phases
Nutri-Score
Complete each stage to unlock the next one.
Nutritional information (Part 2)
ingredients
Camouflaged sugar?
Nutritional information (Part 1)
Awards
We will use as an example the package of cereal bars with chocolate and almonds, but instead of focusing on portions, we will look at how the label shows the nutrients.
PHASE 3
Nutritional information (part 2)
In this phase we will learn to interpret the nutrients (such as salt, sugar, fat, fiber and protein) of the products on their labels.
Awards
On the label, we see percentages (%) that tell us how much of a nutrient is in the product or food in relation to what an average adult needs to consume per day. If we are looking to reduce a specific nutrient, we will consider foods with less than 5% of its daily value. Conversely, a product should show 10-20% of its daily value if we are looking for a good nutrient source.
Awards
The label now shows the grams per nutrient per 100g. If a product has more than 1.25g of salt per 100g, it is considered high in salt. Ideally, consume no more than 5g of salt per day, and it is best to choose products with low salt (less than 0.25g per 100g). How do you rate the salt level of the packet of bars?
Low salt
High in salt
Unsalted
Too high in salt
Awards
If a product has more than 10g of sugar per 100g, it is considered high in sugar. Ideally, the added sugar content should be less than 5% of the product (<5/100g). How do you rate the sugar level of the pack of bars?
Low in sugar
High in sugar
No sugar
Reduced sugar
Awards
Fiber is essential for good digestion. A product is considered a source of fiber if it has more than 3g per 100g. If it has more than 6g per 100g, it is considered high in fiber. How do you rate the fiber level of the bar pack?
Low in fiber
Fiber source
High in fiber
Fiber free
Awards
A product with less than 30% fat (30/100g) is acceptable, but the most important thing is the quality of the fat. Olive oil and nuts are good sources of fat, while refined oils are not. How do you rate the level of fat in the packet of sticks and its quality if it comes mainly from palm oil?
Fat-free and good quality
Fat source
High in fat and poor quality
Acceptable in fat but of poor quality
Awards
What does “low fat” mean? When it has less than 3 g per 100g or less than 1.5 g per 100mL. In the case of “low in saturated fat” it must have less than 1.5g per 100g of saturated fat. What does “light” mean? It means that it has 30% less fat than similar products.
very very good
We are learning a lot
Awards
Yiiiijah
PHASE 3 FINISHED You have obtained the Nutrient Loupe in your badges for this mission.
EXCELLENT
You are already an experienced detective on the nutrients in the products.
Awards
Mission phases
Nutri-Score
Complete each stage to unlock the next one.
Nutritional information (Part 2)
Ingredients
Camouflaged sugar?
Nutritional information (Part 1)
Awards
In this section, we will learn to identify the different names that sugar can have, and some tricks to distinguish between natural and added sugar. This is key to avoid consuming more sugar than we think, because many times it is hidden!
phase 4
Camouflaged sugar?
Sugar does not always appear with the name “sugar” on labels. It is often disguised under different names or ingredients.
Awards
More camouflaged sugar: Natural sugars such as those present in fruits, honey or milk (lactose). Added sugars such as cane sugar, panela, or caramel, which do not come from the fruit directly but are added to sweeten products.
Sugar with different names: It can appear with endings such as “-ose” (e.g. glucose, fructose, maltose) or “-ine” (e.g. maltodextrin). It is also hidden in ingredients such as syrups (such as agave syrup or corn syrup).
Awards
What type of ingredient indicates the presence of camouflaged sugar on a product label?
mmm
Coconut oil
Mineral water
Corn syrup
Oat fiber
Awards
Which of the following is a “ camouflaged” name of sugar on a label?
mmm
Sea salt
Corn flour
Olive oil
Dextrose
Awards
Difference between present and added sugar: Naturally occurring sugars (such as lactose in plain yogurt) are not problematic, but added sugar should be controlled. Beware of names such as “nectar”, or “syrup”!
Tip to identify added sugar: Compare products with their more natural version. For example, a plain yogurt has no added sugars, but a flavored yogurt or one with fruit pieces probably does. The same goes for tomato sauces and other foods.
Awards
Which of these products is most likely to contain added sugars?
mmm
Natural yogurt without sugar
Natural crushed tomato
Whole corn flour
Strawberry Yogurt with fruit control
Awards
Which of these ingredients is a form of added sugar?
mmm
Nectar
Soy protein
Oilves
Corn starch
Awards
This is running
PHASE 4 FINISHED You have obtained the Sugars Loupe hidden in your badges for this mission.
awesome
You are already an experienced detective on the hidden sugars in products.
Awards
Mission phases
Nutri-Score
Complete each stage to unlock the next one.
Nutritional information (Part 2)
Ingredients
Sugar camouflage?
Nutritional information (Part 1)
Awards
The idea is that you can quickly see which products are healthier within the same category. However, the Nutri-Score also has some limitations: it penalizes healthy fats (such as olive oil) and allows high scores on some ultra-processed products with sugar. Therefore, a new calculation of this index has now been implemented (end of 2023) and should be applied before the end of 2025.
PHASE 5
Nutri-Score
It is a system of front labeling on food products used by some countries to help consumers choose healthier products.
Awards
Which color represents the healthiest products in the Nutri-Score, if the healthiest letter is A?
mmm
Green
Yellow
Orange
Red
Awards
Previous index
What is the Nutri -Score mainly for?
To compare any food
To know if a product is ultra-processed
New index
To compare products in the same category
To eliminate unhealthy products from the stores
Olive oil
Awards
Olé
PHASE 5 COMPLETED You have obtained the Index Loupe in your badges for this mission.
fantastic
You are already an experienced detective in the nutritional indexes of products.
MISSION COMPLETED!
As a great food label detective you have earned the following loupe badges:
Click on the loupes to obtain the reward.
CONGRATULATIONS Detective!
As a reward for your hard work, you have unlocked a special award
🎁 Final Award: Reusable Shopping List Template
Download it, print it out and laminate it so you can mark what you need with an indelible marker. Then, take a picture of it with your cell phone when you go to the supermarket. When you're done, just wipe it off with alcohol and it's ready to use again on your next shopping trip!
Funded by the European Union (ID: 101079938). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
No te desanimes, ¡la misión aún no ha terminado! Tómate un momento para descansar y vuelve a intentarlo. Lee atentamente la pregunta. Recuerda que cada error es una oportunidad de aprendizaje. ¡Ánimo, valiente detective!
Ouch!
No te rindas
incluso los grandes detectives se enfrentaron a retos inesperados
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
No te desanimes, ¡la misión aún no ha terminado! Tómate un momento para descansar y vuelve a intentarlo. Lee atentamente la pregunta. Recuerda que cada error es una oportunidad de aprendizaje. ¡Ánimo, valiente detective!
Ouch!
No te rindas
incluso los grandes detectives se enfrentaron a retos inesperados
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
No te desanimes, ¡la misión aún no ha terminado! Tómate un momento para descansar y vuelve a intentarlo. Lee atentamente la pregunta. Recuerda que cada error es una oportunidad de aprendizaje. ¡Ánimo, valiente detective!
Ouch!
No te rindas
incluso los grandes detectives se enfrentaron a retos inesperados
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges
Don't be discouraged, the mission is not over yet! Take a moment to rest and try again. Read the question carefully, and remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity. Courage, brave detective!
Ouch!
Don't give up
even the greatest detectives faced unexpected challenges