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16. Appendix H: Rounding the Values According to FDA Rounding Rules

October 2009

Guidance for Industry: A Food Labeling Guide

This document also available en Español (Spanish) , عربي  (Arabic PDF, 1.29MB), हिंदी (Hindi PDF, 1.46 MB), 简体中文 (Simplified Chinese PDF, 2.85MB), 日本 (Japanese PDF, 1.23MB)


The document below is available in several foreign language(s). FDA offers these translations as a service to a broad international audience. We hope that you find these translations useful. While the agency has attempted to obtain translations that are as faithful as possible to the English version, we recognize that the translated versions may not be as precise, clear, or complete as the English version. The official version of this document is the English version.


Contains Nonbinding Recommendations

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The following table provides rounding rules for declaring nutrients on the nutrition label or in labeling:
NutrientIncrement RoundingInsignificant Amount
Calories (1)
Calories from Fat (1)(ii)
Calories from Saturated Fat (1)(iii)
< 5 cal - express as 0
≤50 cal - express to nearest 5 cal increment
> 50 cal - express to nearest 10 cal increment
< 5 cal
Total Fat (2)
Saturated Fat (2)(i)
Trans Fat (2)(ii)
Polyunsaturated Fat (2)(iii)
Monounsaturated Fat (2)(iv)
< .5 g - express as 0
< 5 g - express to nearest .5g increment
≥5 g - express to nearest 1 g increment
< .5 g
Cholesterol (3)< 2 mg - express as 0
2 - 5 mg - express as "less than 5 mg"
> 5 mg - express to nearest 5 mg increment
< 2 mg
Sodium (4)
Potassium (5)
< 5 mg - express as 0
5 - 140 mg - express to nearest 5 mg increment
> 140 mg - express to nearest 10 mg increment
< 5 mg
Total Carbohydrate (6)
Dietary Fiber (6)(i)
Sugars (6)(ii)
< .5 g - express as 0
< 1 g - express as "Contains less than 1 g" or "less than 1 g"
≥1 g - express to nearest 1 g increment
< 1 g
Soluble and Insoluble
  Fiber; Sugars (6)(i)(A)&(B)&(6)(ii)
Sugar Alcohol (6)(iii)
Other Carbohydrate (6)(iv)
< .5 g - express as 0
< 1 g - express as "Contains less than 1 g" or "less than 1 g"
≥1 g - express to nearest 1 g increment
< .5 g
Protein (7)< .5 g - express as 0
< 1 g - express as "Contains less than 1 g" or "less than 1 g" or to 1 g if .5 g to < 1 g
≥1 g - express to nearest 1 g increment
< 1 g
When declaring nutrients other than vitamins and minerals that have RDIs as a % DV (8)(iii)express to nearest 1% DV increment< 1% DV
Vitamins & Minerals
(express as % DV)

< 2% of RDI may be expressed as:
(1) 2% DV if actual amount is 1% or more
(2) 0
(3) an asterisk that refers to statement
    "Contains less than 2% of the Daily
    Value of this (these) nutrient(s)"
(4) for Vit A, C, calcium, iron: statement
    "Not a significant source of _________
    (listing the vitamins and minerals omitted)"

≤10% of RDI - express to nearest 2% DV increment
> 10% - 50% of RDI - express to nearest 5% DV increment
> 50% of RDI - express to nearest 10% DV increment

< 2% RDI
Beta-Carotene
(express as % DV)
≤10% of RDI for vitamin A- express to nearest 2% DV increment
> 10% - 50% of RDI for vitamin A- express to nearest 5% DV increment
> 50% of RDI for vitamin A- express to nearest 10% DV increment
 

To express nutrient values to the nearest 1 g increment, for amounts falling exactly halfway between two whole numbers or higher (e.g., 2.5 to 2.99 g), round up (e.g., 3 g). For amounts less than halfway between two whole numbers (e.g, 2.01 g to 2.49 g), round down (e.g., 2 g).

When rounding % DV for nutrients other than vitamins and minerals, when the % DV values fall exactly halfway between two whole numbers or higher (e.g., 2.5 to 2.99), the values round up (e.g., 3 %). For values less than halfway between two whole numbers (e.g., 2.01 to 2.49), the values round down (e.g., 2%).

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