In the context of food labeling, RACC stands for "Reference Amount Customarily Consumed." It is an acronym developed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is used to determine the serving size for a particular food product. The RACC represents the amount of food that an average person would be expected to consume in one sitting.
The FDA has established RACC values for various food categories, which are used to determine the serving size and the nutrient content per serving on the Nutrition Facts label. These values are generally considered to be broad descriptions of the types of products that are assigned to the applicable RACC.
Understanding the RACC is important for food manufacturers and consumers alike. For manufacturers, it helps in creating accurate and FDA-compliant labels. For consumers, it provides a standardized reference for comparing the nutrient content of different food products and making informed dietary choices.
Here are some examples of RACC values for different food categories:
- Ice cream: 2/3 of a cup.
- Yogurt: 8 ounces.
- Bread: 1 slice.
- Cereal: 1 ounce.
- Soft drinks: 8 ounces.
Its worth noting that the FDA has made some changes to the RACC values in recent years, which can impact the serving size and nutrient content on the Nutrition Facts label.
