Tech issue...MFP added calories incorrectly

K9RSQ4ME

I couldn’t post in the technical problem page, so sorry this is a bit off topic. I’m not a newbie, but oddly today my calories are adding correctly. I added all different ways to make sure...added carbs times 4, protein times 4, fat times 9, still the calorie total is over the correct number by about 100. How can that happen? It’s like a calculator making a mistake. It just doesn’t happen.

AnnPT77

K9RSQ4ME wrote: »

I couldn’t post in the technical problem page, so sorry this is a bit off topic. I’m not a newbie, but oddly today my calories are adding correctly. I added all different ways to make sure...added carbs times 4, protein times 4, fat times 9, still the calorie total is over the correct number by about 100. How can that happen? It’s like a calculator making a mistake. It just doesn’t happen.

Incorrect food database entries, probably, rather than a technical problem.

The database is crowd-sourced; anyone can enter anything they wish.

When you're first starting out, it helps to check your entries carefully until your "recent" list is propagated with accurate entries for things you eat routinely, if you want that degree of precision.

It can always be a little off because of rounding issues, but 100 off suggests either a rounding error, or the inclusion of alcohol, which has calories but isn't carbs, fats, or protein.

lorrpb

K9RSQ4ME wrote: »

I couldn’t post in the technical problem page, so sorry this is a bit off topic. I’m not a newbie, but oddly today my calories are adding correctly. I added all different ways to make sure...added carbs times 4, protein times 4, fat times 9, still the calorie total is over the correct number by about 100. How can that happen? It’s like a calculator making a mistake. It just doesn’t happen.

Probably a rounding deviation.

AnnPT77

AnnPT77 wrote: »

K9RSQ4ME wrote: »

I couldn’t post in the technical problem page, so sorry this is a bit off topic. I’m not a newbie, but oddly today my calories are adding correctly. I added all different ways to make sure...added carbs times 4, protein times 4, fat times 9, still the calorie total is over the correct number by about 100. How can that happen? It’s like a calculator making a mistake. It just doesn’t happen.

Incorrect food database entries, probably, rather than a technical problem.

The database is crowd-sourced; anyone can enter anything they wish.

When you're first starting out, it helps to check your entries carefully until your "recent" list is propagated with accurate entries for things you eat routinely, if you want that degree of precision.

It can always be a little off because of rounding issues, but 100 off suggests either a rounding error, or the inclusion of alcohol, which has calories but isn't carbs, fats, or protein.

Oops, error, and too late to edit. Bolded should be "database error". Apologies! (Rounding isn't super likely to accumulate to a number that big, though it's narrowly possible.)

PAV8888

Manufacturer rounding Ann and intentional label "optimum presentation within the rules".

I've seen lots of labels that are rounded and don't add up.

Which is why in my personal review calculations I multiply out my macros and deduct half of fiber (as opposed to 100% that the food labels often deduct when in reality quite often the fiber is partially digestible)

And alcohol, of course. And wrong or corrupt entries.

K9RSQ4ME

I'm going to assume the issue is a rounding issue. This doesn't have anything to do with incorrect database entries. I'm talking about taking your end of the day numbers...multiplying your carbs by 4, your protein by 4 and your fat by 9 and adding it all up and the number being over the total calories in the app. I went through and checked the last week. Turns out every day is off by about 15 - 25. That's certainly no big deal, it just seemed weird that one day was off by so much. Guess it was just a fluke.

tinkerbellang83

K9RSQ4ME wrote: »

I'm going to assume the issue is a rounding issue. This doesn't have anything to do with incorrect database entries. I'm talking about taking your end of the day numbers...multiplying your carbs by 4, your protein by 4 and your fat by 9 and adding it all up and the number being over the total calories in the app. I went through and checked the last week. Turns out every day is off by about 15 - 25. That's certainly no big deal, it just seemed weird that one day was off by so much. Guess it was just a fluke.

But if the macros are incorrect in the database entries then there is potential for it to mess with the end of day tally.

i.e. if someone has put a typo in one food entry saying it has more protein than it actually has then your calories would be correct but your protein count isn't so there'd be a discrepancy.