Reference Daily Intake

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Reference Daily Intake (RDI) is the daily dietary intake level of a nutrient considered sufficient to meet the requirements of nearly all (97–98%) healthy individuals in each life-stage and gender group. The RDI is used to determine the Recommended Daily Value (RDV) which is printed on food labels in the U.S. and Canada. RDI was formerly called Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). RDI is based on the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI).

They are intended to serve as nutrition guidance to the general public and health professionals. Uses include:

food labels
composition of diets for schools, prisons, hospitals or nursing homes
industry developing new food stuffs
healthcare policy makers and public health officials

1 Food labeling reference tables
2 History
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Food labeling reference tables

For people 4 years or older, eating 2000 Calories per day:

Total Fat	65 g
Saturated fatty acids	20 g
Cholesterol	300 mg
Sodium	2400 mg
Potassium	4700 mg
Total carbohydrate	300 g
Fiber	25 g
Protein	50 g

[edit] History

The RDA was developed during World War II by Lydia J. Roberts, Hazel K. Stiebeling and Helen S. Mitchell under the auspices of the National Research Council. The National Research Council determined that a set of dietary standards were needed, especially given the possibility that rations would be needed during the war. The standards would be used for nutrition recommendations for the armed forces, for civilians, and for overseas population who might need food relief. Roberts, Stiebeling, and Mitchell surveyed all available data, created a tentative set of allowances, and submitted them to experts for review. The final set of allowances were accepted in 1941. The allowances were meant to provide superior nutrition for civilians and military personnel, so they included a "margin of safety."

The RDA was established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the (US) National Academy of Sciences.

In 1997 at the suggestion of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy RDA became one part of a broader set of dietary guidelines called the Dietary Reference Intake used by both the United States and Canada.