Dietary Reference Intakes: Guiding Principles for Nutrition Labeling and Fortification states that government authorities in the United States and Canada should use the current Dietary Reference Intake values (DRIs) to update nutrition information on food and dietary supplement labels so that consumers can compare products more easily and make informed food choices based on the latest science.

In the United States, most nutrient reference values published on food labels are not based on the most current scientific information; these values are instead based on the 1968 Recommended Daily Allowances.

The committee offers 10 guiding principles for incorporating current scientific information into nutrition labeling, and six principles to guide "discretionary fortification," which is the voluntary addition of nutrients to food by manufacturers. The report also addresses the many technical issues that government scientists and policymakers would face in the proposed efoort. Ultimately, the recommended changes would help consumers use food and dietary supplement labels to choose healthier diets.