The Difference Between Low and Reduced Fat and Sodium

The terms "reduced," "less," and "low" are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and have specific meanings when used on food labels.

"Reduced" means that the product contains at least 25% less of the specified nutrient or calorie content than the regular version of the product.

"Less" means that the product contains a smaller amount of the specified nutrient or calorie content than the regular version of the product.

"Low" means that the product contains a small amount of the specified nutrient or calorie content and must meet certain criteria set by the FDA, such as having no more than 3 grams of fat per serving for a low-fat product.

Additionally, "sodium free" means that the product contains less than 5 milligrams of sodium per serving, and "no sodium" or "unsalted" means that no sodium chloride is added during processing.

It's important to keep in mind that these terms are relative and depend on the specific product and the regular version of it, so it's always a good idea to check the nutrition label for more information.