The % Daily Values (%DVs) are based on the Daily Value recommendations for key nutrients for a 2000-calorie diet. It helps you determine if a serving of food is high or low in a nutrient.

The %DV puts all the numbers on the same scale for the day ranging from 0-100%DV. The column doesn't add up vertically to 100 percent. Instead, the percentage amount for each nutrient shows how much of the daily requirement for that nutrient (for a 2000 calorie diet) is provided by the food. 

For example, you will get 18 percent of your total fat for the day from one serving of this macaroni and cheese. This is relatively high, especially if you eat the whole package, which has two servings - that would be 36 percent of your total fat for the day. And remember, this is for a 2000 calorie diet. If you are consuming 1500 calories per day, eating the whole package will account for 45 percent of your fat intake.

Note the * used after the heading "%Daily Value" on the Nutrition Facts label. It refers to the footnote in the lower part of the nutrition label, which tells you "%DVs are based on a 2,000 calorie diet". This statement must be on all food labels. But the remaining information in the full footnote may not be on the package if the size of the label is too small. When the full footnote does appear, it will always be the same. It doesn't change from product to product, because it shows recommended dietary advice for all Americans – it is not about a specific food product.

Look at the amounts circled in red in the footnote – these are the Daily Values (DV) for each nutrient listed and are based on public health experts' advice. DVs are recommended levels of nutrient intakes. DVs in the footnote are based on a 2000 or 2,500 calorie diet. Note how the DVs for some nutrients change, while others (for cholesterol and sodium) remain the same for both calorie amounts.