Table 1 – Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed Per Eating Occasion: Infant and Toddler Foods[1][2][3][4]
Product category | Reference amount | Label statement4 |
Cereals, dry instant | 15 g | _ cup (_ g) |
Cereals, prepared, ready-to-serve | 110 g | _ cup(s) (_ g) |
Other cereal and grain products, dry ready-to-eat, e.g., ready-to-eat cereals, cookies, teething biscuits, and toasts | 7 g for infants and 20 g for toddlers for ready-to-eat cereals; 7 g for all others | _ cup(s) (_ g) for ready-to-eat cereals; _ piece(s) (_ g) for others |
Dinners, desserts, fruits, vegetables or soups, dry mix | 15 g | _ tbsp(s) (_ g); _ cup(s) (_ g) |
Dinners, desserts, fruits, vegetables or soups, ready-toserve, junior type | 110 g | _ cup(s) (_ g); _ cup(s) (_ mL) |
Dinners, desserts, fruits, vegetables or soups, ready-toserve, strained type | 110 g | _ cup(s) (_ g); _ cup(s) (_ mL) |
Dinners, stews or soups for toddlers, ready-to-serve | 170 g | _ cup(s) (_ g); _ cup(s) (_ mL) |
Fruits for toddlers, ready-to-serve | 125 g | _ cup(s) (_ g) |
Vegetables for toddlers, ready-to- serve | 70 g | _ cup(s) (_ g) |
Eggs/egg yolks, ready-to-serve | 55 g | _ cup(s) (_ g) |
Juices, all varieties | 120 mL | 4 fl oz (120 mL) |
[1] These values represent the amount of food customarily consumed per eating occasion and were primarily derived from the 1977-1978 and the 1987-1988 Nationwide Food Consumption Surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. We further considered data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003-2004, 2005-2006, and 2007-2008 conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
[2] Unless otherwise noted in the reference amount column, the reference amounts are for the ready-to-serve or almost ready-to-serve form of the product (e.g., heat and serve, brown and serve). If not listed separately, the reference amount for the unprepared form (e.g., dry mixes, concentrates, dough, batter, fresh and frozen pasta) is the amount required to make the reference amount of the prepared form. Prepared means prepared for consumption (e.g., cooked).
[3] Manufacturers are required to convert the reference amount to the label serving size in a household measure most appropriate to their specific product using the procedures in 21 CFR 101.9(b).
[4] The label statements are meant to provide examples of serving size statements that may be used on the label, but the specific wording may be changed as appropriate for individual products. The term “piece” is used as a generic description of a discrete unit. Manufacturers should use the description of a unit that is most appropriate for the specific product (e.g., sandwich for sandwiches, cookie for cookies, and bar for frozen novelties).