Comparison of raw coconut milk with chili beef soup (condensed) in terms of dietary fiber, potassium, iron, phosphorus, and selenium based on the FDA Nutrition Facts label and the proposed Nutrition Facts label

According to the FDA Nutrition Facts label, raw coconut milk is a better food choice than chili beef soup in terms of selenium, iron, phosphorus, dietary fiber, and potassium. Raw coconut milk is high (excellent source) in selenium and iron and a source (good source) of phosphorus, dietary fiber, and potassium based on the FDA Nutrition Facts label. However, consuming raw coconut milk as much as the Daily Value (DV) for energy (based on the reference energy intake of 2,000 calories) results in receiving 98% of the DV for selenium, 79.2% of the DV for iron, 69.6% of the DV for phosphorus, 68.3% of the DV for dietary fiber, and 48.7% of the DV for potassium. So, raw coconut milk is unsuitable for achieving the DVs for selenium, iron, phosphorus, dietary fiber, and potassium based on the proposed Nutrition Facts label. Chili beef soup is a source of selenium, phosphorus, dietary fiber, iron, and potassium based on the proposed Nutrition Facts label. According to the proposed Nutrition Facts label, chili beef soup is a better food choice than raw coconut milk in terms of these five positive nutrients.

Suggested citation: Forouzesh, Abed; Forouzesh, Fatemeh; Samadi Foroushani, Sadegh; Forouzesh, Abolfazl. Nutrition labels of foods: friends or foes in public health? Critical vulnerabilities of U.S. FDA Nutrition Facts label and invention of a reliable Nutrition Facts label. Food Production, Processing and Nutrition 2025;7:28. DOI: 10.1186/s43014-025-00306-3