Nutrition Label FAQ: Know What to Look For

GE Privacy

Introduction: protecting your privacy, enhancing your online experience

When it comes to data privacy, protecting your personal information is most important. We feel it’s also important to give you, your colleagues, and your family members a voice in the development of this web site and your overall experience with it. To do this, we need to collect certain types of information to help us evaluate how the HealthAhead web site is being used, so we can continually improve your experience and the content we offer to you. By tracking overall usage patterns, providing an easy channel for your feedback, and allowing you to tell us what content is most useful to you, we can refine our offerings and provide more of the content you personally find valuable.

Overall, we are committed to giving you the option to participate – or not participate – in a manner that’s right for you. Read more for how we do this.

Information we collect and how we use it

Identifiable Information Collecting

All methods of identifying yourself to GE will be optional and opt-in, may be updated by you at any time, and will not be required for all areas of the web site.

We will not collect any identifiable user information from the areas of the HealthAhead web site which do not require SSO (Single Sign On), unique User ID (Identification), and/or Password.

There are areas of the web site that require you to identify yourself to us (authenticate). This allows you to access certain parts of the web site that may otherwise be restricted for privacy and security purposes.

There are also areas that may provide the option to create a personalized profile. The information you provide is optional and what you tell us will determine the level of personalization you will experience.

Access to identifiable information is restricted to internal, administrative personnel and solely for purposes of providing web site support, awarding prizes and other recognition, and customizing the web site content and overall functionality for the user. However, we will also allow you to change your mind and opt-out of sharing personal information with us at any time.

Non-Identifiable Information Collecting

When you visit the HealthAhead web site, we track, collect and report on certain aggregate and non- identifiable information. In other words, the information we collect does not relate to a single identifiable visitor. It tells us things such as how many users visited our web site and what pages they viewed.

This non-identifiable data will be collected and stored in a secure database in the U.S., and may be viewed by GE. We will analyze this information to refine our web site to better reflect user preferences, such as the type of content users are searching for most, and to improve the usability of the web site and the user’s web site experience. The information may also be used for purposes of promoting the web site. The data will not be used for medical analysis or other medical purposes.

Cookies

Like many web sites, the HealthAhead web site uses browser cookies – bits of text placed on your computer’s hard drive when you visit. We use them to tell us things like whether you’ve visited us before, and to help us identify features in which you may have the greatest interest. We also use cookies to track country and language selection.

In the future, we may use cookies to track additional details, such as city and state.

We keep this information unless you don’t wish GE to capture this and choose to delete your cookie history. If you wish to stop accepting new browser cookies, get notification when you receive a new cookie, or disable existing cookies, the “help” portion of the toolbar on most browsers will tell you how. Keep in mind, without browser cookies, you may not be able to take full advantage of all our web site features or have your preferences saved for future visits.

We also use Flash cookies on the web site to enhance your online experience. These are similar to browser cookies, but they store data more complex than simple text. Flash cookies, by themselves, cannot do anything to or with the data on your computer. In addition, Flash cookies cannot access or remember your email address or other personal information unless you provide the information on this web site.

Web Beacons

Certain pages on our web site contain “web beacons” (also known as Internet tags, pixel tags and clear GIFs). These web beacons obtain information such as the time the page was viewed, the type of browser used to view the page, and the information in cookies. Web beacon data does not include IP address. The web beacon data is stored at Google Analytics, a third party (see ‘Tracking and Reporting’ for more information on this technology).

Tracking and Reporting

Specifically we will track, collect and report on the following data using software from Google Analytics. For more information about Google Analytics, including information about how to opt out of these technologies, go to www.google-analytics.com

Our primary metrics include: Poll response rate, repeat visits, number of times content is shared, and visits by country.

The sub-metrics include:

Most Popular Content Types, Most Popular Content Topics, User Pathing, Exit Links, Bounce Rate, Traffic by Source (region), Time on Web site, Visit Time of Day, Unique Views/Page Views, Thumps Up/Down, Most Shared Content, Number of Times Content is Rated, Most Rated Content by Type, Language Selection.

We will also be tracking how much communicators, web site leaders and other HealthAhead operations teams are leveraging the web site to support and align their business, regional and web site specific efforts. Some of these metrics may be tracked using existing support central tools.

These metrics may include:

Number of Content Submissions by Region, Number of non-corporate Driven Promotions by RCs, Number of Promotional Downloads by Region, Support Central Survey

Feedback Form

Your feedback is important to the web site’s ongoing development, so we’d love to hear your opinions and ideas. To contact us, please use this Feedback form. We will not be able to respond directly, but all feedback will be reviewed, evaluated, and factored into future content decisions. Please note: this form is monitored by IT support staff only. Please do not submit any personal or medical information. And thank you in advance!

Poll and Quiz Responses

On the web site, we will conduct polls and quizzes to better understand user activities, attitudes, interests and knowledge across multiple health topics. These polls may also help us serve you better by asking questions that relate to the usefulness of our web site. We will not capture any personally identifiable information through the collection of poll response data. As part of these polls and quizzes, we will capture responses sorted by country. In the future, we may capture responses sorted by additional anonymous demographics such as language, affiliated GE business, work web site location, gender, etc.

Sharing Content with Family and Friends

We want you to share the web site’s content with important people in your life, so most articles, videos and slideshows can be emailed. To do so, we will ask you to provide your name and the recipient’s email address. We simply use this information to send the content as you request. At this time, we do not capture or store your, or the recipient’s, email address. Please see below to learn how we track and report on email sharing activity.

Please also review GE’s Social Media Guidelines

How we protect information

GE maintains administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect against unauthorized disclosure, use, alteration or destruction of any information you provide on this web site. We use secure socket layer (SSL) technology to help keep the information you provide on this web site secure. See ‘Information We Share’ and ‘Information We Transfer’ for additional details.

Information we share

We do not sell or otherwise disclose personal information about our visitors, except as described here. We may share information provided by visitors with service providers we have retained to perform services on our behalf. These service providers are contractually restricted from using or disclosing the information, except as necessary to perform services on our behalf or comply with legal requirements. In addition, we may disclose information about you if we are required to do so by law or legal process; to law enforcement authorities or other government officials; or when we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to prevent physical harm or financial loss or in connection with an investigation of suspected or actual illegal activity.

Information we transfer

We may transfer the information we collect on this web site to other countries where we do business, but only for the purposes described above. When we transfer your information to other countries, we will protect that information as described here unless otherwise required by applicable laws.

Links to other web sites

We provide links to other web sites for your convenience and information. These web sites may have their own privacy statements in place, which we recommend you review if you visit any linked web sites. We are not responsible for the content of linked web sites or any use of the web sites.

Children’s privacy

This web site is not directed to children under the age of thirteen and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of thirteen on the web site. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received personal information from a visitor under the age of thirteen, we will delete the information from our records.

Some links on this web site may take web site visitors to web sites that are directed to children. These web sites have their own privacy notices that address children’s privacy. We encourage you to read these privacy notices if you visit any linked web sites directed to children.

Updates to our privacy & data policy

This Privacy & Data Policy may be updated periodically and without prior notice to you to reflect changes in our online information practices. We will post a notice on this web site to notify you of any significant changes to our Privacy & Data Policy, and indicate at the top of this policy when it was most recently updated.

How to contact us

If you have any questions or comments about this Privacy & Data Policy, or if you would like us to update information we have about you or your preferences, please contact us by visiting our Feedback Form.

Nutrition Label FAQ: Know What to Look For

When it comes to packaged food, it’s always wise to read the nutrition label. But do you know what you should be looking for? It’s helpful to have a basic understanding of nutrition labels so that you can pay attention to what’s in your food, especially when it comes to sugars, sodium, cholesterol, trans fats, and saturated fats. If you become a savvy label reader, you’ll also be able to identify the types of foods that have sneaky hidden ingredients, such as cereals with added sugar and canned products with added sodium.

The Basics: Which Foods Have Labels? Nutrition Labels 2

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strict requirements about the information that food manufacturers need to provide on nutrition labels. The agency requires food labeling for nearly all types of prepared foods, including canned and frozen foods, breads and cereals, snacks and desserts, and beverages. Nutrition labeling is not required for fruits, vegetables, or fish—it is voluntary. To find nutrition information on a food label, look on the package for a section called “Nutrition Facts.” Each label must contain details about serving size and number of servings per container, calories per serving and calories from fat, and a listing of the amount of nutrients in the food, along with the percentage of daily value in your diet.

Serving Size and Calorie Count Nutrition Label 3

To make sense of a nutrition label, your first step is to check the top of the label for the serving size. Next, look directly below this information to find the number of calories per serving. Remember, people often indulge in more than one serving at a time. If you want to know how many calories you will consume at your meal, you must multiply the number of calories per serving by the number of servings you plan to eat.

Sound complicated? It’s simple once you try it. For example, let’s say you want to eat two pieces of toast for breakfast. The bread’s nutrition label may tell you that a serving size is “one slice,” with 160 calories per serving. Now, you need to multiply the number of calories per serving by the 2 servings you plan to eat. In this example, you would multiply 160 by 2, giving you 320 calories.

Nutrients to Limit Nutrition Labels 4

You’ll find a list of nutrients listed beneath the calorie information on food labels—but not all nutrients are created equal. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), you should try to limit the amount of fat, cholesterol, and sodium in your diet. For a 2,000-calorie diet, your daily total fat intake should not exceed 78 grams per day, which includes a maximum of 16 grams of saturated fat. It’s best to avoid trans fats altogether. When it comes to cholesterol, the AHA recommends limiting your intake to no more than 300 milligrams per day. Lastly, the AHA suggests consuming less than 1500 milligrams of sodium per day. Remember—these are just guidelines. Your doctor, dietitian, or other healthcare provider may have more specific dietary recommendations for you.

Nutrients to Seek Nutrition Labels 5

The AHA suggests that you make sure you get enough of certain key nutrients, including dietary fiber, vitamin A, calcium, thiamin, niacin, vitamin C, iron, and riboflavin. You should strive each day to reach 100 percent of the amount of vitamins, minerals, and fiber that your body needs. The FDA reports that most Americans don’t get enough of certain specific nutrients in their diets, including fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron. The agency notes that proper intake of these nutrients can decrease your risk of developing certain health conditions, such as osteoporosis and heart disease.

Are you getting enough of these key nutrients? Make sure you use the “Nutrition Facts” label to help ensure you are feeding your body all of the vitamins and minerals it needs.

Understanding Percent Daily Value Nutrition Labels 6

Opposite the list of nutrients on a food label, you’ll find the percent daily value for each nutrient. According to the FDA, the daily value section represents the amount of each nutrient in a serving compared to the total amount of the nutrient that a person should consume in a day (based on a 2000-calorie diet). For example, if one serving of a certain food contains 10 percent daily value of vitamin C, you will still need to eat other foods rich in vitamin C to make up the other 90 percent. Alternatively, if a serving contains 100 percent daily value of vitamin C, then that’s all the vitamin C you need for the day.

The AHA suggests using this section to help you reduce your consumption of sodium, saturated fat, and cholesterol by choosing foods that have 5 percent daily value or less. But if you want to consume more of a nutrient like fiber, then choose foods that contain 20 percent daily value or more.

Watching for Hidden Sugar, Fat, and Sodium Nutrition Labels 7

Some foods that may appear to be otherwise healthy may actually contain a significant amount of sugar, sodium, or fats—including trans fats. Don’t be fooled by packaging that lists other health benefits of a food. Always check the label for the hidden ingredients it may contain.

Many foods contain hidden sugars that you wouldn’t expect, including cereal, tomato sauce, and bread. Keep in mind that sugars do not have a percent of daily value on food labels. According to the FDA, this is because health experts could not provide a reference value or any other information that the agency believes would be sufficient to establish a percentage.

Food that may contain trans fats include doughnuts, pastries, cakes, cookies, pizza crust, French fries, certain stick margarines and shortenings, and any food that is fried. The AHA advises people to avoid foods with any amount of trans fats.

Conclusion Nutrition Labels 8

While reading food nutrition labels takes some practice, learning how to understand them can help you make smarter, more nutritious choices about your diet. According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s especially important to pay attention to food labels if you have certain health conditions, like high cholesterol or high blood pressure, that require you to follow a special diet. Use the nutrition data on food labels to help you compare foods for health benefits, and to avoid foods with too many hidden unhealthy ingredients, like excess sodium, fat, or sugar. With time and practice, you’ll find that nutrition labels can be an important tool to help you plan a healthy, nutritious diet for your whole family.