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RDI stands for Recommended Dietary Intake. It is one of the Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) that Australia and New Zealand use to set how much of each vitamin and mineral people need. You will also see RDI on food labels, where it means something slightly different. This guide explains what RDI means, how it differs from the RDA, EAR, AI and UL, and how to read %RDI on a nutrition panel.
At a glance
- RDI means Recommended Dietary Intake: the daily amount that meets the needs of nearly all (97 to 98%) healthy people of a given age and sex.
- Because it covers nearly everyone, most people need less than the RDI. It is a target, not a minimum.
- RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) is the US and Canadian term for the same idea.
- Some nutrients, such as vitamin D and fibre, have no RDI. They have an Adequate Intake (AI) instead.
- The RDI on a food label is a single fixed reference value set by food law, so it can differ from your personal RDI.
What does RDI stand for?
RDI stands for Recommended Dietary Intake. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) defines it as the average daily intake that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97 to 98%) healthy individuals in a particular life stage and gender group. The current Nutrient Reference Values were published in 2006 by the NHMRC, the Australian Government and the New Zealand Ministry of Health.
RDI, EAR, AI and UL: the Nutrient Reference Values
The RDI is one of several reference values. Each answers a different question:
| Term | Stands for | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| EAR | Estimated Average Requirement | The amount that meets the needs of half the healthy people in a group. Used to judge whether groups are eating enough. |
| RDI | Recommended Dietary Intake | The amount that meets the needs of nearly all (97 to 98%) healthy people in a group. |
| AI | Adequate Intake | Used when there is not enough evidence to set an RDI. Based on intakes of healthy people that are assumed to be adequate. |
| UL | Upper Level of Intake | The highest daily intake likely to cause no harm for almost everyone. |
| EER | Estimated Energy Requirement | The energy (kilojoules) needed to maintain energy balance for a healthy adult of a given age, size and activity level. |
| AMDR | Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range | The suggested share of energy from protein, fat and carbohydrate. |
| SDT | Suggested Dietary Target | An intake for some nutrients that may help prevent chronic disease. |
RDI vs RDA
RDA stands for Recommended Dietary Allowance. It is the term used in the United States and Canada, and it is defined the same way: the intake that meets the needs of nearly all (97 to 98%) healthy people. In Australia and New Zealand the equivalent term is RDI.
Is the RDI the minimum you need?
No, and this is the most common mix-up. Because the RDI is set to cover nearly everyone, most people’s actual needs are lower. The NRVs say that for an individual, a usual intake at or above the RDI has a low probability of being inadequate. Falling a little under the RDI on some days does not mean you are deficient.
For groups, researchers use the EAR instead. The Australian Bureau of Statistics used this method in its 2023 survey and found 63.7% of Australians aged 2 and over did not meet their calcium requirement from food and drinks, and 26.8% of females (47.7% of females aged 18 to 29) had an inadequate iron intake, compared with 8.2% of males. The ABS notes that an intake close to the EAR does not by itself mean harm, although the risk of falling short rises the further intake sits below it.
Examples of adult RDIs and AIs in Australia
| Nutrient | Women | Men | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 18 mg (19 to 50 years), 8 mg (51+) | 8 mg | RDI |
| Calcium | 1,000 mg (19 to 50 years), 1,300 mg (51+) | 1,000 mg (19 to 70 years), 1,300 mg (70+) | RDI |
| Folate | 400 micrograms | 400 micrograms | RDI |
| Magnesium | 310 mg (19 to 30), 320 mg (31+) | 400 mg (19 to 30), 420 mg (31+) | RDI |
| Vitamin D | 5 micrograms (19 to 50), 10 (51 to 70), 15 (70+) | Same as women | AI |
| Dietary fibre | 25 g | 30 g | AI |
Needs are different in pregnancy and breastfeeding. You can look up the value for your own age and sex with our nutrient reference value lookup.
What %RDI and %DI mean on food labels
Australian food labels use two different percentages:
- %DI (percentage daily intake) is optional and applies to energy, protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugars, sodium and fibre. It is based on an average adult diet of 8,700 kJ.
- %RDI must be shown when a food makes a claim about a vitamin or mineral. It uses a single reference value set in the Food Standards Code, not the NRV for your age and sex.
Those label values can be quite different from personal needs. The label RDI for iron is 12 mg, while the NRV RDI for women aged 19 to 50 is 18 mg. The label RDI for calcium is 800 mg, while adults need 1,000 to 1,300 mg. So a food providing 25% RDI of iron provides less than 25% of what a younger woman needs.
Are the NRVs being updated?
Most of the values are still from 2006. Fluoride and sodium were updated in 2017, and the NHMRC began a rolling review in 2019. Final updated values for iodine and selenium are expected in late 2026, and for sodium and vitamin B6 in 2027.
When to see your GP
Reference values are designed for healthy people. If you have symptoms such as ongoing tiredness, a medical condition, or you take medicines that affect nutrients, your needs can be different. Ask your GP whether a blood test is worthwhile before starting high-dose supplements, and remember that more is not always better: the UL exists because too much of some nutrients can cause harm.
Try it yourself: Find the RDI, AI and upper limit for your age and sex. Open the nutrient reference value lookup →
Working out what you actually need
Whether you are getting enough of a nutrient depends on what you usually eat, your life stage, any health conditions and medicines, and any supplements you take. Felicity can look at the whole picture and tell you where the real gaps are, if there are any.
Felicity Bull is an Accredited Practising Dietitian. She sees clients in person in Mount Hutton (Newcastle and Lake Macquarie) and by telehealth across Australia. See all our nutrition tools.
Book with Felicity →Common questions
What does RDI stand for?
Recommended Dietary Intake. It is the daily intake that meets the needs of nearly all (97 to 98%) healthy people of a particular age and sex.
What is the difference between RDI and RDA?
They mean the same thing. RDI is the term used in Australia and New Zealand, and RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) is used in the United States and Canada.
Is the RDI the minimum I need?
No. The RDI covers nearly everyone, so most people need less. An intake at or above the RDI means a low chance of falling short.
What does %RDI mean on a food label?
It is the share of a fixed label reference value that one serve provides. The label values are set in the Food Standards Code and can differ from your personal needs.
What is the difference between RDI and AI?
An AI (Adequate Intake) is used when there is not enough evidence to set an RDI. Vitamin D and fibre have AIs, not RDIs.
What is the UL?
The Upper Level of Intake: the highest daily intake that is likely to cause no harm for almost everyone.
Where this comes from
General information only, not personal advice. It does not replace advice from your doctor or dietitian.
- National Health and Medical Research Council. Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand: introduction (2006). www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/introduction
- National Health and Medical Research Council. Nutrient Reference Values Australia and New Zealand: updates and current review. www.eatforhealth.gov.au/node/20
- Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes: Applications in Dietary Assessment. Washington DC: National Academies Press; 2000. nap.nationalacademies.org/read/9956/chapter/3
- Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Food Standards Code, Standard 1.2.8 Nutrition information requirements (compilation 30 April 2026). www.legislation.gov.au/F2015L00395/2026-04-30/2026-04-30/text/original/epub/OEBPS/document_1/document_1.html
- Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Food Standards Code, Schedule 1 RDIs and ESADDIs. www.legislation.gov.au/F2015L00491/latest/text
- National Health and Medical Research Council. Nutrient Reference Values: iron. www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/iron
- National Health and Medical Research Council. Nutrient Reference Values: calcium. www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/calcium
- National Health and Medical Research Council. Nutrient Reference Values: folate. www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/folate
- National Health and Medical Research Council, Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. Magnesium. www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/magnesium
- National Health and Medical Research Council. Nutrient Reference Values: vitamin D. www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/vitamin-d
- National Health and Medical Research Council. Nutrient Reference Values: dietary fibre. www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/dietary-fibre
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. Usual nutrient intakes, 2023 (released 17 March 2026). www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/food-and-nutrition/usual-nutrient-intakes/2023
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australians continue to need more calcium (media release, 2026). www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/australians-continue-need-more-calcium
