# low-calorie-main-dish — FDA nutrient content claim qualification criteria

For low-calorie-main-dish, claim term is low calorie; nutrient is calories; food format is main dish; threshold is 120 calories or less per 100 g; cfr section is 21 CFR 101.60(b)(3)(i), recorded from its source on 2026-08-17.

- **Claim ID:** low-calorie-main-dish _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Claim term:** low calorie _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Nutrient:** calories _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Food format:** main dish _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Threshold:** 120 calories or less per 100 g _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **CFR section:** 21 CFR 101.60(b)(3)(i) _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_

## What the source says

> The terms “low calorie,” “few calories,” “contains a small amount of calories,” “low source of calories,” or “low in calories” may be used on the label or in labeling of foods, except meal products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(l)> § 101.13(l) and main dish products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(m)> § 101.13(m) , provided that: ( i ) ( A ) The food has a reference amount customarily consumed greater than 30 grams (g) or greater than 2 tablespoons and does not provide more than 40 calories per reference amount customarily consumed; or ( B ) The food has a reference amount customarily consumed of 30 g or less or 2 tablespoons or less and does not provide more than 40 calories per reference amount customarily consumed and, except for sugar substitutes, per 50 g (for dehydrated foods that must be reconstituted before typical consumption with water or a diluent containing an insignificant amount, as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(1)> § 101.9(f)(1) , of all nutrients per reference amount customarily consumed, the per 50 g criterion refers to the “as prepared” form). ( ii ) If a food meets these conditions without the benefit of special processing, alteration, formulation, or reformulation to vary the caloric content, it is labeled to clearly refer to all foods of its type and not merely to the particular brand to which the label attaches (e.g., “celery, a low calorie food”). ( 3 ) The terms defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.60#p-101.60(b)(2)> paragraph (b)(2) of this section may be used on the label or in labeling of meal products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(l)> § 101.13(l) or main dish products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(m)> § 101.13(m) , provided that: ( i ) The product contains 120 calories or less per 100 g; and

## Source

- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-101/subpart-D/section-101.60

Last verified: 2026-08-17. Review by: 2027-08-17.
Part of [FDA nutrient content claim qualification criteria](https://referencesource.org/fda-nutrient-content-claim-criteria/).