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Glossary
Food terms, explained
Short, plain definitions of the words you'll see on product pages and spec sheets. Each one links to a guide when there's more to know.
A
- Added sugars
- Sugars added during processing, such as table sugar, syrups and honey. Read the guide →
- Allergen statement
- A "Contains" line listing major allergens in a product. Read the guide →
B
- Best by
- A date for peak quality, not safety, on most foods. Read the guide →
C
- Complete protein
- A protein containing all nine essential amino acids, such as whey, eggs and soy. Read the guide →
- Cross-contact
- The unintended transfer of an allergen from one food or surface to another. Read the guide →
D
- Dietary fiber
- Plant carbohydrates the body doesn't digest, which support fullness and digestion. Read the guide →
E
- Extra virgin olive oil
- The highest olive oil grade: unrefined, mechanically extracted and low in acidity. Read the guide →
M
- Matcha
- Powdered shade-grown green tea, whisked into water or milk. Read the guide →
- Meal kit
- A delivery of pre-portioned ingredients and recipes to cook at home. Read the guide →
O
- Oxidation (tea)
- The process that turns tea leaves darker and changes flavor, from green (none) to black (full). Read the guide →
P
- Percent Daily Value (%DV)
- How much a serving contributes to a daily diet. 5% or less is low; 20% or more is high. Read the guide →
R
- Roast date
- When coffee beans were roasted. Freshness depends on it more than the best-by date. Read the guide →
S
- Sell by
- A date that tells stores how long to display a product. Read the guide →
- Serving size
- The amount all nutrition numbers on a label are based on. Read the guide →
- Single-origin coffee
- Coffee from one country, region or farm. Read the guide →
- Smoke point
- The temperature at which an oil starts to smoke and break down. Read the guide →
- Subscription cadence
- The repeating interval at which a service sends scheduled deliveries. Read the guide →
- Sugar alcohols
- Low-calorie sweeteners such as erythritol and maltitol that can upset some stomachs. Read the guide →
T
- Tisane
- An herbal infusion not made from the tea plant, usually caffeine-free. Read the guide →
U
- USDA Organic category
- A regulated food-label category based on certified organic ingredient content and label rules. Read the guide →
- Use by
- The last recommended date for peak quality; follow closely on perishables and infant formula. Read the guide →
W
- Weekly cutoff
- The deadline to skip or change a subscription delivery. Read the guide →