Daily Value

Definition

Daily Value (DV) indicates the percentage of a nutrient provided by a serving of food in relation to the daily recommended amount. It helps consumers understand nutrient contributions from their diet based on a 2,000-calorie daily intake.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Daily Values are established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
2. DVs are used on Nutrition Facts labels to help consumers compare nutrients in different foods.
3. The Daily Value for vitamins can differ between individuals based on age, gender, and life stage.
4. A DV of 20% or more is considered high for that nutrient, while a DV of 5% or less is low.
5. Updated DVs reflect new scientific evidence about dietary needs and health outcomes.

Review Questions

• What organization establishes Daily Values?
• How is a high Daily Value percentage defined on Nutrition Facts labels?
• Why might the Daily Value for vitamins vary among different people?

Related terms

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): The average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all healthy individuals.

Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL): The maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects.

Adequate Intake (AI): A recommended intake value based on observed or experimentally determined approximations when an RDA cannot be determined.