Dried apricots show 7% DV for vitamin C

Details

Created on 10, December, 2017

A package of imported dried organic apricots shows 111 calories, 7% of the Daily Value for vitamin C, 1% DV for calcium, 0% DV for iron, and no mention of vitamin A.

The label is in the new format, which was launched in 2016, but is not yet mandatory. Once a manufacturer decides to use the new format, however, all of the regulations for the new label format must be followed, as well as the existing rounding and other rules that have not changed. This label is out of compliance in many respects, including the following:

Improper rounding: Calories should not show as 111, but as 110; percent of Daily Value, when under 10%, should be to the nearest 2% (it should never show as 1% or 7%).

Misplacement of voluntary vs mandatory nutrients: Vitamin C is a voluntary (optional) nutrient in the new label format, so it should only show after the mandatory nutrients (Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, Potassium); vitamin D is not shown, but it should be at least mentioned in the footnote if it is 0.

Incorrect data: Vitamin C is much lower than shown (should be "0% DV"); iron is higher than shown (the average is about 6% DV, not 0); vitamin A is present in apricots, even after drying, and typically around 8% DV for a 40g standard serving. It is possible that someone mistakenly put the data for vitamin A in the space for vitamin C.