Why are products marked with wrong weight?

evandmegsmom

I have always gone by food labels when computing my calories, but just recently got a digital food scale and am increasingly surprised by how many things are marked wrong. It goes without saying that I should go by what the scale says, right?? Sorry for the "stupid" question, but I need a litlle validation. Thanks!

Atlantique

Do you mean that the food labels are marked incorrectly or that the MFP database is sometimes incorrect?

wellnesscoachmegg

I think I catch your drift--

For example the package says, 220 calories in 85 grams, but then you weigh it and its 91 grams or something. Id go by the actual weight and just add or subtract the calorie discrepancy. That being said--I think its okay if its cauliflower, or something similarly calorie friendly vs something calorie dense like nuts or peanut butter. Thats how I've managed it and it seems to work just fine!

Atlantique

I think I catch your drift--

For example the package says, 220 calories in 85 grams, but then you weigh it and its 91 grams or something. Id go by the actual weight and just add or subtract the calorie discrepancy. That being said--I think its okay if its cauliflower, or something similarly calorie friendly vs something calorie dense like nuts or peanut butter. Thats how I've managed it and it seems to work just fine!

OH! Wow, is that ever a scary thought! :noway:

Glad that I bought a scale and that I now know to use it even for single serving packs!

MzBug

I believe that manufacturers are allowed a 5% difference either way. Sometimes you have to read the labels very carefully too!! Sometimes you will see "serving size = X" and then the "portions per package = 1.75" etc. Sometimes it is in very tiny print and not where you would expect it to be on the package. There is always the ol "contents may settle during shipping" ... doesn't make any difference if you are weighing the product on the scale before use, but it can have an effect if you are using a volume measurment!

evandmegsmom

Right! I had tuna fish today, and it said the serving size was 2 oz., drained, and that there were 2 servings in the can. It was actually 3.4 oz., according to my scale. So in this instance the weight discrepancy was a positive, but I see where it could easily go the other way....where you think you're eating a certain amount of something and you're eating more. It's nit-picky, but frustrating all the same. Thanks for listening to my vent. :-)