What is a Nutrition Label and Why It Matters for Health?

Ever wondered what that little table on your food items package really means? That’s the Nutrition Facts Label—your quick guide to what’s inside, from calories to key nutrients.

Whether you're managing a health condition, eating cleaner, or watching portions, understanding this label helps you make smarter, faster food choices.

Let’s break down the essentials and see how this tiny chart can lead to better eating habits.

What is a Nutrition Label and What Is Its Role?

A Nutrition Facts Label is a quick-reference guide found on packaged foods that shows key nutrient information—like calories, fat, saturated fat content, sugars content, sugar, and the reference intake for the number of grams of vitamins. Its role? To help you make informed food choices that support your health goals and contribute to a healthy diet by reading food labels, whether you're managing a condition or simply aiming for a balanced diet.

What’s New in the Label?

The FDA revamped the Nutrition Facts Label to reflect modern eating habits and improve transparency. Here’s what’s changed:

1. Serving Sizes Updates

Serving sizes now reflect what people actually eat, not just recommended amounts for the amount people typically consume as a single serving. This means labels show more realistic portions—like a full 20-ounce soda instead of a smaller serving—making it easier to understand the true nutritional impact and make informed choices.

2. Calories Font Changes

Calories are now displayed in a larger, bold font right at the top, making them easier to see quickly and helping you better manage your energy intake.

3. The Lows and Highs of % Daily Value

The % Daily Value has been updated to better show how much a nutrient contributes to your daily diet, including the amount of dietary fiber, which is important for good health and helps reduce blood cholesterol levels. It's now easier to tell what’s low (5% or less) or high (20% or more), and you can identify foods that are a good source of essential nutrients.

4. Nutrient List Modified

The label now includes nutrients Americans often lack—like Vitamin D and vitamin K—while removing others like Vitamins A and C, including vitamin C, which are no longer common deficiencies. Added sugars, especially those that contain much added sugars, are also now clearly listed.

Make the Label Work for You with Afinia Label Printers

Nutrition labels aren’t just a legal requirement—they're your brand’s commitment to transparency and quality. Afinia Label printing solutions empower food producers of all sizes to create clear, compliant, and professional-grade labels in-house. 

Whether you're printing short runs for product testing or scaling to full production, there's an Afinia printer designed to meet your needs. Below is a closer look at three standout models from Afinia’s lineup of color label printers, each tailored to different stages of growth and production demands.

1. Afinia L502 – Versatile, Durable, and Cost-Effective

The Afinia L502, priced at USD $2,795.00, is perfect for small to mid-sized businesses looking for flexibility and durability in their labeling process. It’s built to handle a variety of food packaging environments—especially where moisture, oil, and rough handling are factors.

Key Features:

• Dual Ink Compatibility: Easily switch between dye-based ink for vivid colors and pigment-based ink for water-, smudge-, and UV-resistant labels. Ideal for food products stored in refrigerators or freezers.

• Wide Print Capability: Supports labels up to 8.5 inches wide, allowing for a range of product sizes—from snack packs to bulk items.

• Rugged Build: Metal casing and industrial-grade components for long-term, heavy-duty use.

• Enhanced Print Control: Integrated touchscreen and powerful software give you complete control over color, layout, and print alignment.

Best For:
Artisanal food brands, meal prep services, or health food companies that need durability and design flexibility.

Pros:

• Interchangeable dye and pigment inks for vibrant or durable labels

• Sturdy, industrial-grade build

• Faster print speeds than previous models

• Supports a wide range of label materials

• Separate CMYK cartridges reduce ink waste

Cons:

• Larger footprint than desktop label printers

• Higher upfront cost compared to entry-level models

• Switching between dye and pigment inks requires cleaning and downtime

2. Afinia L801 – High-Speed, High-Volume Color Printing

The Afinia L801, priced at USD $8,495.00, is engineered for businesses ready to scale. It offers unmatched speed, precision, and cost efficiency for large-volume nutrition and product labeling.

Key Features:

• High-Speed Printing: Produces up to 60 feet per minute with full-color, high-resolution output—ideal for production lines that require speed without sacrificing quality.

• Low Cost Per Label: Utilizes high-capacity 250ml CMYKK (dual black) ink cartridges to reduce ink costs and minimize downtime between changes.

• Exceptional Resolution: 1600 x 1600 DPI ensures crystal-clear barcodes, legible nutrition facts, and vibrant branding.

• Roll-to-Roll Printing: Seamless integration with finishers, laminators, and applicators for continuous production.

Best For:
Growing food manufacturers, co-packers, and fulfillment centers that require consistent, professional-grade label output at scale.

Pros:

• High-speed printing up to 60 ft/min for large-scale production

• High resolution up to 1600 x 1600 dpi for sharp, vibrant labels

• Low ink cost with large-capacity 250ml dye-based ink system

• Supports a wide range of label materials

• User-friendly with intuitive controls and minimal maintenance

Cons:

• Standard model lacks water resistance (upgrade available)

• Requires regular maintenance to avoid ink clogging

• Higher upfront cost than entry-level printers

• Larger footprint may need more space

3. Afinia LT5C – Compact, Full-Color + White Toner Printing

The LT5C, priced at USD $13,495.00, is a compact toner-based printer offering full-color CMYK plus white toner printing—making it uniquely suited for labeling on transparent, dark, or metallic materials.

Key Features:

• White Toner Printing: Print on clear or colored labels for premium product aesthetics and readability—especially important for glass packaging, gourmet foods, or refrigerated goods.

• Media Versatility: Handles a wide range of materials including vinyl, PET, BOPP, and more, with options for glossy, matte, and textured finishes.

• Compact Footprint: Desktop-friendly without sacrificing professional-grade quality.

• Extended Shelf Life: Toner prints are dry, UV-stable, and water-resistant, making them ideal for long shelf-life products or items requiring robust labeling.

Best For:
Premium food and beverage brands, boutique producers, or those using specialty label materials for high-end retail appeal.

Pros:

• Compact and space-saving design

• High-quality color printing with vibrant output

• Affordable price for small businesses

• Easy to operate with straightforward controls

• Supports various label materials

Cons:

• Slower print speeds compared to industrial models

• Limited media width (up to 5 inches)

• Not ideal for high-volume production

• Basic features, lacks advanced industrial options

Choosing the Right Printer for Your Labeling Needs

From startup to scale-up, Afinia has a solution to match your production volume, budget, and label durability requirements. Investing in the right label printer not only improves compliance and quality—it empowers your brand to adapt quickly, reduce outsourcing costs, and elevate shelf presence.

Selecting the ideal printer means more than just hardware—it’s about finding a partner that understands your unique labeling challenges. Whether you need fast turnaround times, vibrant color accuracy, or labels that withstand harsh environments, Afinia’s diverse lineup delivers flexibility and reliability. 

With user-friendly interfaces and scalable technology, you can maintain full control over your branding and regulatory demands. This investment ultimately drives efficiency, boosts product appeal, and supports long-term growth in competitive markets.

OmegaBrand Label Printers: Professional Power at Your Fingertips

OmegaBrand isn’t just a label printer brand—we’re your partner in delivering professional, compliant, and eye-catching labels. Whether you’re a small artisan producer or a large manufacturer, our printers offer the flexibility and reliability to match your needs.

Our high-resolution printers handle everything from vibrant branding to detailed nutrition facts, barcodes, and allergen info with ease. Designed for use with various materials—from paper to waterproof films—Omega printers deliver crisp, durable labels every time.

Beyond powerful hardware, we provide expert support to keep your labeling process smooth and scalable. Choose Omega for quality, efficiency, and a partner dedicated to helping your brand grow—one perfect label at a time. Book a call with us now.

Conclusion

Choosing the right label printer is a critical step toward enhancing your product’s presentation, ensuring compliance, and streamlining your packaging process. Omega delivers the perfect blend of advanced technology, durability, and user-friendly design—whether you’re printing small batches or scaling up production. 

With Omega, you gain not only high-quality labels but also a trusted partner dedicated to supporting your brand’s growth every step of the way. Make the smart choice today and see how Omega can transform your labeling workflow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are the values on nutrition labels updated?

Nutrition label values are updated when a product’s ingredients or serving sizes change, or when the FDA issues new regulations regarding the new food label product labels in the food industry, including food packages. 

While major label overhauls don’t happen frequently, manufacturers are responsible for keeping the information current. This ensures the data reflects both updated scientific understanding and the actual composition of the food.

How to use nutrition labels when cooking?

When cooking, you can use nutrition labels to measure ingredients more accurately and to track nutrients like calories, sugar, sodium intake, high blood pressure-related aspects, and the risk of heart disease in each component of your meal. 

By using the listed serving size as a reference, you can compare similar products and scale ingredients up or down depending on your recipe. It’s especially useful for meal prep, dietary tracking, and making substitutions to align with your health goals.

What are the most essential sections of a nutrition label?

The most important sections to pay attention to are the serving size, the number of servings, the number of calories, percent daily values, and nutrient breakdown, including the nutrient amounts. Serving size tells you how much of the food the rest of the information applies to. 

Calories show how much energy one serving provides, and your calorie needs can vary based on activity levels. The percent daily value helps you gauge how much of each nutrient you’re getting based on general nutrition advice for a 2,000-calorie diet. The nutrient list shows what’s included and helps you decide what to eat more or less of.

What to do if nutritional information is missing from the label?

If a product is missing nutrition information, it could be exempt from labeling requirements—for example, fresh produce, small bakery goods, or items sold in bulk, including infant formula. 

If it’s a packaged product that should have a label, check the brand’s website for a list of ingredients or contact the company directly. You can also estimate the nutrition using a reputable food database or mobile app until verified information is available.

What does the "%" symbol mean on a nutrition label?

The percent symbol on a nutrition label stands for percent daily value, or %DV. This number tells you how much of a particular nutrient a serving of a food contributes to the average person’s daily diet, based on a 2,000-calorie intake. 

It’s a quick way to understand if a serving of a food is high or low in a specific nutrient. Generally, 5% or less is considered low, and 20% or more is considered high.