Why is the Daily Value for vitamin K so different for infants?
FDA sets a separate Daily Value for each of four population groups. For vitamin K the gap between the highest and lowest is 48× — the widest spread of any nutrient on the panel.
| Population group | Daily Value | Spread |
|---|---|---|
| Adults & children 4+ | 120 mcg | |
| Pregnant & lactating | 90 mcg | |
| Children 1–3 years | 30 mcg | |
| Infants 0–12 months | 2.5 mcg |
An infant formula label and an adult supplement label can carry the same amount of vitamin K and declare wildly different %DV. The nutrient didn't change — the denominator did.
Source: 21 CFR § 101.9(c)(8)(iv) · CFR snapshot 2026-02-12