PEOPLE

With the federal government proposing changes in the labeling of food, the Southeast Missourian asked people what they read on food labels.

Ann Hayes: "I generally read the labels for information on sodium, calories and cholesterol because I have become more health-conscious in the last couple of years. Sometimes I will put an item back if it has a higher level of sodium than I think it should."

Steve Meadows: "I look at food labels for the content of sodium, fat and cholesterol. Sometimes it's hard to tell what they mean when a product is labeled `light' or `less.' I would like to see them get their serving sizes down pat so it is the same from one item to another."

Carolyn Ewing: "I look at the labels to see not only the percentages, but also the ingredients. I feel that all food should be labeled, not just food that is labeled as `healthy' food. Food should not be labeled as `low-cholesterol' when it is naturally low, and it is not really the issue."

Dan Wilson: "I check the labels on new items for calories and content. I try to stay away from a lot of high-fat and high-calorie items. I also look at the price per ounce for the different sizes of containers, because the amount of the product can decrease without you knowing it."

Milford Holt: "I look especially for the fat content, because my doctor is unhappy about my cholesterol level. Fat turns into cholesterol, so it's the total fat content that is important. If I can, I try to determine what percentage of calories are from fat. I also prefer lower sodium."

Beverly McWilson: "I mainly look at the fat grams. People who want to lose weight should not eat more than 30 grams of fat a day. I am somewhat interested in the sodium level. I am not as concerned about the ingredients like a lot of people are."