Coming to a shelf near you: The new Nutrition Facts labels

Comings and goings

The labels will remove the "calories from fat" line while continuing to list types of fat, important since we now know that there are "good fats" (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) and "bad fats" (saturated and trans fats).

And for the first time, the label will include a line about added sugars, so you'll know how many grams of sweeteners have been added to foods during processing.

Do the changes go far enough?

"They are a step in the right direction—but more could be done," McManus says. She'd like to see highlights of the nutrition information (particularly calories) listed on the front of the food product. "Some people don't take the time in the supermarket to read the back of the package. Often, they review the information when they get home and realize it is not the healthiest choice."

And what about whole foods that do not have labels, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish? "It would be helpful to have nutrition facts in the produce and fish sections of the supermarket, informing consumers of the nutrition information, and hopefully promoting these whole foods," says McManus.

For now, she recommends that you take advantage of label information to keep track of how many servings you're eating; look at the number of calories per serving and fit that into your daily calorie goal; choose foods that are higher in fiber; limit or avoid foods with added sugars (the American Heart Association recommends no more than 24 grams of added sugar per day for women and 36 grams for men); and remember that the Daily Value percentages are based on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet. Modify the percentage if you usually take in fewer or more calories than that.