Nutrition Labels: What Changes Between Europe and the US
In short
Both systems display roughly the same nutrients, but their calculation basis differs: Europe requires per-100g/100ml figures (EU regulation 1169/2011, "INCO"), the US shows values per FDA-defined serving. Comparing two products from different origins without recalculating can therefore mislead.
A box of cereal bought in Paris and the same product imported from the US don't show their nutrition figures the same way. That's not a design detail: the two labels follow different regulations, with calculation bases, reference percentages and mandatory fields that don't fully overlap.
This guide breaks down both regulatory frameworks — the EU's INCO regulation and the FDA's Nutrition Facts — so you understand what each label actually measures, and avoid comparing two numbers that aren't talking about the same thing.
Two regulations, two philosophies
In Europe, nutrition labelling is governed by Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, known as the INCO regulation (Food Information to Consumers), mandatory for almost all pre-packaged food since December 2016. In the US, it's the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that mandates the Nutrition Facts format, under the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act. Both pursue the same goal — informing consumers before purchase — but with different presentation choices from the very first line.
The calculation basis: per 100g/ml vs per serving
This is the most important difference to know. In Europe, the INCO regulation requires values per 100g or 100ml, with per-serving display remaining optional and additional. In the US, the FDA format shows values per serving ("serving size"), a unit defined by the FDA itself from typically consumed amounts, not chosen freely by the manufacturer. The practical result: directly comparing the number on a US label and an EU label without recalculating can give a completely wrong impression if the reference servings differ.
The reference percentage: %RI vs %DV
Both systems show a percentage meant to place a nutrient within a typical day's needs.
- Europe: %RI (Reference Intake). Calculated for an average adult eating 2000 kcal/day, the basis set by Annex XIII of the INCO regulation, itself backed by scientific opinions from EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority). A single reference profile is used, with no man/woman/child distinction on the label itself.
- United States: %DV (Daily Value), also defined by the FDA based on a 2000-kcal diet, but with per-nutrient reference values recalculated by the FDA (sometimes different from EFSA thresholds, notably for sodium or fibre).
The two percentages look visually similar but aren't interchangeable: a European "20%" and a US "20%" can refer to slightly different reference thresholds for the same nutrient.
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A few concrete gaps between the two labels:
- Added sugars: mandatory on the US label since the FDA's 2016 revision ("Added Sugars"), still optional on the EU label, which only requires total sugars.
- Allergens: the INCO regulation requires the 14 regulated allergens to stand out within the ingredients list (distinct typeface, bold, or underline), a stricter requirement than the US format, which lists them separately under a "Contains" statement.
- Trans fats: mandatory on the US label, not required in the EU (only saturated fat is mandatory there).
- Vitamins and minerals: the FDA has required vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium on every label since 2016; in the EU, only energy, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt are mandatory by default — vitamins and minerals appear only if the manufacturer chooses to list them.
The Nutri-Score: a third layer, specific to some European countries
On top of the mandatory nutrition table, several European countries (including France) have voluntarily adopted a summary logo, the Nutri-Score, calculated from the same figures in the nutrition table. There is no official federal equivalent in the US: the FDA has explored front-of-pack logos (such as the industry-run Facts Up Front programme), but no summary logo is currently mandated by US federal regulation.
What this actually means for you
If you're comparing two products from the same country, both systems are perfectly reliable. The trap mostly shows up in two situations: comparing an imported product to a local one without bringing both to the same basis (100g), and reading a US reference percentage as if it followed EFSA thresholds. In Radish, every food page shows its value per 100g regardless of the original source (CIQUAL for France, USDA for the US), which avoids exactly this comparison trap.
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Why do the percentages differ between a French and a US label?
Because reference values aren't set by the same body: Europe relies on EFSA opinions (Annex XIII of the INCO regulation), the US on Daily Values set by the FDA. Both use a 2000-kcal diet as a baseline, but per-nutrient thresholds can differ.
Does the US label show added sugars?
Yes, since the FDA's 2016 revision, an "Added Sugars" line is mandatory in the US. In the EU, only total sugars are mandatory; added sugars remain an optional field.
Does the Nutri-Score exist on products sold in the US?
No, no summary logo is mandated by US federal regulation. The Nutri-Score is a voluntary scheme adopted by some European countries.
Both labels are reliable within their own framework, but they don't read the same way: always check the calculation basis (per 100g/ml or per serving) before comparing two products from different origins. Want nutrition values that are always consistent, always on the same basis? Try Radish, free: CIQUAL and USDA data shown with their source, and your diary stays on your phone — never sent to our servers (except AI or barcode scanning, if you use them).
General information, not medical advice.
🔎 Methodology & sources. Every nutrition figure in this article is cross-checked against official sources (ANSES, EFSA, WHO, CIQUAL/USDA, French Public Health agency), and health topics are reviewed before publication against our internal reference framework. See our full methodology →
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