Folate

US Daily Value for adults: 400 mcg DFE · unit on labels: mcg DFE

US labels declare folate in mcg DFE (dietary folate equivalents), and when folic acid is added its amount in mcg must follow in parentheses (21 CFR 101.9). 1 mcg DFE = 1 mcg food folate = 0.6 mcg folic acid, so a supplement with 400 mcg folic acid is labelled 680 mcg DFE, and the 400 mcg DFE Daily Value corresponds to 240 mcg folic acid. China and the EU state folate in plain mcg.

Reference intakes

ValueUnited StatesChinaEuropean Union
Label reference valueBasis of the % on labels, fixed by each regulation; not a recommended intake400 mcg DFEDV · Adults and children 4+1400 mcg DFE; 400 mcg (or mcg DFE) from 16 March 2027 (GB 28050-2025)NRV3200 mcg (folic acid)NRV5
Recommended intake, adults400 mcg DFERDA · Adults 19+2400 mcg DFERNI · Adults 18+4330 mcg DFEPRI6
Upper intake level1,000 mcg (folic acid from supplements or fortified foods)UL · Adults 19+21000 mcg (synthetic folic acid, not natural food folate)UL · Adults 18+41000 mcg (folic acid)UL7
  1. FDA, 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv), Daily Values for adults and children 4 years and older
  2. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Folate fact sheet for health professionals (2022)
  3. GB 28050-2011 General rules for nutrition labelling of prepackaged foods, Appendix A nutrient reference values (NRV); unit expression revised in GB 28050-2025, Appendix A (published 16 March 2025, in force 16 March 2027) (2025)
  4. Chinese Nutrition Society, Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs 2023) (2023)
  5. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII Part A, nutrient reference values (consolidated text) (2011)
  6. EFSA NDA Panel, Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for folate (2014)
  7. EFSA NDA Panel, Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for folate (2023)

Label values (DV, NRV) are the reference points behind the percentages on labels. Recommended intakes and upper levels are quoted from the bodies named; they vary by age, sex and life stage, and they are not advice.