How are calories measured & tested?

xjessicaxrx

This is baffling me... different foods are made up of different substances and are all digested differently, So how do they work out the number on the label?? I have tried Google and it confused me even more, Theories & facts welcome please!

junodog1

The Calorie you see on a food package is actually a kilocalorie, or 1,000 calories. A Calorie (kcal) is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water 1 degree Celsius. ... The food was completely burned and the resulting rise in water temperature was measured.

"Old method" but technically correct

Go to this link:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-food-manufacturers/