Where's the potassium?

AVanBens
AVanBens Posts: 17 Member
in Getting Started
This is more a quick vent than a discussion prompt.

Why do so few foods say how much potassium they have!? If I went solely by my MFP info, I'd be convinced I'm about to fall over from potassium deficiency, but I think I'm doing better than it's showing. Potassium is important for people with high blood pressure (like me! yay!) so, you know, it'd be cool to know I'm getting enough.

That is all.

Replies

  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    AVanBens wrote: »
    This is more a quick vent than a discussion prompt.

    Why do so few foods say how much potassium they have!? If I went solely by my MFP info, I'd be convinced I'm about to fall over from potassium deficiency, but I think I'm doing better than it's showing. Potassium is important for people with high blood pressure (like me! yay!) so, you know, it'd be cool to know I'm getting enough.

    That is all.

    Because potassium, for now in the US, is not required on food labels. Users can only enter the information they are given.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    And to add, many folks are just here to count calories and maybe macros, so they might not necessarily take the time to enter every line from the nutrition info.
  • ccrdragon
    ccrdragon Posts: 3,374 Member
    Potassium is not required on food labels in the US until the year 2020 for the large food manufacturers and 2021 for the smaller food manufacturers, so until then, you probably won't get the info.

    https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/LabelingNutrition/ucm385663.htm
  • AVanBens
    AVanBens Posts: 17 Member
    Yeeeaaahhh, I know it's not required. It's just annoying to me. ;) I created a few mostly repetitive foods just to add the dang potassium to it.
  • French_Peasant
    French_Peasant Posts: 1,639 Member
    AVanBens wrote: »
    Yeeeaaahhh, I know it's not required. It's just annoying to me. ;) I created a few mostly repetitive foods just to add the dang potassium to it.

    You should also have the ability to edit the nutrition for foods other people have entered, if you know something has potassium but it is not reflected. I have corrected a lot of things when I notice the protein or fiber is missing.
  • AVanBens
    AVanBens Posts: 17 Member
    AGH! Really?! I didn't know this one. Thanks much!
    French_Peasant wrote: »
    AVanBens wrote: »
    Yeeeaaahhh, I know it's not required. It's just annoying to me. ;) I created a few mostly repetitive foods just to add the dang potassium to it.

    You should also have the ability to edit the nutrition for foods other people have entered, if you know something has potassium but it is not reflected. I have corrected a lot of things when I notice the protein or fiber is missing.

  • MichelleSilverleaf
    MichelleSilverleaf Posts: 2,027 Member
    French_Peasant wrote: »
    AVanBens wrote: »
    Yeeeaaahhh, I know it's not required. It's just annoying to me. ;) I created a few mostly repetitive foods just to add the dang potassium to it.

    You should also have the ability to edit the nutrition for foods other people have entered, if you know something has potassium but it is not reflected. I have corrected a lot of things when I notice the protein or fiber is missing.

    The problem I have with that is that if I can edit it, so can others. I ended up just making my own entries that don't get added to the database. It's a pain at first but I know it's accurate and I don't have to worry about it ever getting changed.

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