Final answer:
The FDA requires packaged food labels to include information on calories, fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
Step-by-step explanation:
When educating a patient about how to interpret food labels, a medical assistant should inform the patient that the FDA requires nutrition labels on packaged foods to include measurements of specific nutrition elements. Every nutrition label must provide information on the following elements:
- Calories
- Fat
- Protein
- Carbohydrates
- Vitamins and minerals
These nutrition elements are essential for consumers to understand their food's nutrient content and make informed dietary choices. The label will also show a breakdown of Calories from fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, as well as the percent daily values (% DV) for certain nutrients to guide consumers about the amount of each nutrient in a serving relative to their daily recommended intake.