Bonus · Reading the table
Reading the table, no maths needed
It looks like an accountant’s spreadsheet. But all it takes is four glances, in the same order every time.
| 100 g | 30 g | Colour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energia (Energy) | 1697 kJ 405 kcal | 509 kJ 122 kcal | |
| Lípidos (Fat) | 12 g | 3.6 g | Medium |
| dos quais saturados (of which saturates) | 1.8 g | 0.5 g | Medium |
| Hidratos de carbono (Carbohydrate) | 62 g | 18.6 g | |
| dos quais açúcares (of which sugars) | 24 g | 7.2 g | High |
| Fibra (Fibre) | 7.5 g | 2.3 g | |
| Proteínas (Protein) | 9 g | 2.7 g | |
| Sal (Salt) | 0.15 g | 0.05 g | Low |
An example table, laid out like the ones on Portuguese packs, though the packs print a decimal comma (3,6 g). The colour doesn’t come with the table: you work it out yourself, if you like.
- Start with the 100 g column. It’s the one for comparing different products. Portion sizes vary from brand to brand.
- Read the “dos quais” (of which) lines: of which saturates, of which sugars. They’re two of the four lines that make up the traffic light.
- Finish with the salt. It’s the last line, and it’s part of the traffic light too.
- Give them a colour. Check fat, saturates, sugars and salt against the cheat sheet or your wallet card. Here, the sugars come out red.
Four glances, always in the same order: the 100 g column, the “of which” lines, the salt and the colours.
