How Do I Read a Food Label for Vitamin D Content?

Reading a food label for vitamin D content can be confusing. The vitamin D content of a food is found on the Nutrition Facts Panel on the food label and expressed as the % Daily Value. The Daily Value (DV) should not be confused with recommended intakes.As recommendations for vitamin D have been increased over the years to reflect new scientific findings, the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Food labeling has not updated the Daily Value of 400 International Units (IU)/day.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation's 2007 Vitamin D recommendation for  under adults under age  50 is 400 to 800 IU/day and for adults age 50 and older is 800 to 1000 IU/day. 

 It is important to know that on food labels, 100% Daily Value for vitamin D is 400 IU based on more outdated recommendations. Although the Daily Value should not be considered the recommended intake for vitamin D, you can use the %DV for vitamin D listed on the food label  to find out the vitamin D content (IU) per serving of food

1.  Look for the Nutrition Facts Panel on the food label.(see sample food label    below)

2.  Find the serving size:

• For example: Serving size is 8 fluid ounces

3.  Find the %DV for vitamin D (per serving).

• For example: vitamin D is 25%

4. Multiply the vitamin D (%DV per serving) x 4 to find IU per serving:

• For example: 25% x 4 =100 IU vitamin D in 8 ounces
  
  Sample Food Label