What “reference amount customarily consumed” means
The words below are the regulation's own. They are quoted exactly from the United States Code of Federal Regulations.
The definition
FDA calculated the reference amounts for persons 4 years of age or older to reflect the amount of food customarily consumed per eating occasion by persons in this population group. These reference amounts are based on data set forth in appropriate national food consumption surveys.
The following reference amounts shall be used as the basis for determining serving sizes for specific products:
Plain facts about this rule
The regulation then lists a reference amount for each kind of food, in tables. The tables are in the full text at the source.
Several label terms, such as “low sodium”, are defined per reference amount.
Source
- Text used:
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Title 21, Part 101, as in force on 6 October 2026
- Checked on:
- 11 October 2026