Food labels are a helpful way to make good food choices when you have kidney disease. Here are some top tips to help you use the nutrition information panel to make a healthy food choice.  

Remember: The nutrition panel will often be on the side or back of packaging. 

Always look at the per 100g column when comparing between products 

• Salt: Look for products with less than 120mg of sodium per 100g. This a ‘low salt’ product by law. Products with less than 400mg per 100g such as bread are considered a ‘reduced salt’ product. 
• Sugar: Look for products with as little added sugar as possible. Aim for less than 15g sugar per 100g as a guide 
• Fibre: High fibre products can be identified by looking at the per serve column. Choose foods that have more than 3g of fibre per serve 
• Fat: Look for products with a saturated fat amount that is less than 3g per 100g 
• Potassium: Nutrition information panels in Australia do not have to declare the potassium or phosphate level – even if the product is high in these things. 

You can also use the Food Standards Agency ANZ database to search potassium and phosphate in generic packaged items but remember that this does not include additives used by specific brands and manufacturers. Click the button below and select “Searchable Database”