Percent Daily Value

Percent Daily Value, written as %DV, is a value on U.S. Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts labels that shows how much a nutrient in one serving contributes relative to its Daily Value. The Daily Value (DV) is a standardized reference amount established for nutrition labeling. A serving containing an amount equal to the applicable Daily Value would provide 100% DV for that nutrient .^1,2

The %DV is calculated by comparing the amount of a nutrient in a serving with the applicable Daily Value and expressing the result as a percentage. For example, if a serving contains one-quarter of the Daily Value for a nutrient, it provides approximately 25% DV. As a general labeling guide, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers 5% DV or less per serving low and 20% DV or more high .^1,2

Daily Values can represent different types of nutritional goals. For nutrients such as dietary fiber, the DV serves as a reference for obtaining enough, whereas for nutrients such as saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars, it represents an amount to limit. Some nutrients, including trans fat and total sugars, do not have an established %DV on U.S. labels .^1,2

Percent Daily Value is not the same as a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). DVs are standardized labeling reference values intended to help consumers interpret and compare foods, whereas RDAs are Dietary Reference Intakes developed for specific life-stage and sex groups. An individual's nutrient or energy needs can therefore differ from the amounts represented by 100% DV .^1,2