Deceptive label... help me figure this one out!

MisoSoup79

Okay, so my can of chicken weighs 9.75 ounces unopened. The label says that a serving is 2 ounces and there are about 5 servings in the can.

However, once drained of water and dumped out of the can, there are actually only about 6.5 oz of chicken left. So there are actually about 3 servings in the can IF a serving is really 2 oz of chicken.

So... are there actually 250 calories in the can? Or are there only 150 calories? Did they actually expect consumers to eat part of the can? What is the actual serving size? This is confusing and seems like a scam to me...

MisoSoup79

Okay, so my can of chicken weighs 9.75 ounces unopened. The label says that a serving is 2 ounces and there are about 5 servings in the can.

However, once drained of water and dumped out of the can, there are actually only about 6.5 oz of chicken left. So there are actually about 3 servings in the can IF a serving is really 2 oz of chicken.

So... are there actually 250 calories in the can? Or are there only 150 calories? Did they actually expect consumers to eat part of the can? What is the actual serving size? This is confusing and seems like a scam to me...

songbyrdsweet

No, they probably expect you to drink the juice though. It's not a scam--there are about 10 oz in the can, it's just that several of them are nasty chicken water.

KatWood

I'm confused too.
The label says there are 5 serving or were you just doing the math 10/2 =5 ?
Maybe just split the difference and call it a day. Will 50 cals really make that much of a difference either way?

MisoSoup79

I'm confused too.
The label says there are 5 serving or were you just doing the math 10/2 =5 ?
Maybe just split the difference and call it a day. Will 50 cals really make that much of a difference either way?

The LABEL actually says there are "about 5" servings in the can. YET, THE ENTIRE CAN weighs only 9.75 oz.... metal included. So if there are 5 servings of chicken, that would make each serving like 1.3 oz, NOT 2 oz... and even with water, the contents don't equal 9.75 unless they are inside the can.

iftcheiaf

Because of all the confusion with that...and my inability to measure peanut butter correctly...I invested in a food scale and LOVE IT. It has cleared up some serious misconceptions for me in so many ways. But the whole water in the can thing, I'm still stumped.

joonieB

Either it is mislabled or a scam. Either way, use your food scale. I bet on line you can see what a 2 oz drained portion of chicken is worth, calorie wise. Like you, I really want the correct total going onto my food log. 50 calories here and there and all of a sudden, you are off 10% of your daily calories. Lame!

1crazymom

Confusing? That's why I love my food scale!

laird20k

You could always just measure it by weight or by cup (1/4 or 1/2) and look up the calories on here or another website.

aprilvet

The weight on the can is for the ingredients, not including the packaging. This is just like tuna. 5 x 2oz=10oz, which is close to 9.75oz. Therefore, "about" 5 servings. Once you drain the juice, divide the chicken into 5- that is your serving. I do the same with my tuna- the can says 2.5 servings. I eat the whole can. Therefore I log 2.5 servings. I agree that it is frustrating that they include the liquid in the measurement, but that's just how canned foods are measured.

MisoSoup79

Confusing? That's why I love my food scale!

Unfortunately I am using a scale and that is why I say the label is misleading... because what is INSIDE the can does not equal five 2 oz. servings (it doesn't even equal four 2 oz servings). And that is why I am asking for advice. Most of the online calorie guides go by what is stated on the packaging... therefore I am left with a serving size of 1.3 ounces if I am to actually divide the contents in half. That is why I don't know if there are actually 250 calories in the can... because the math does not add up with what the actual weight of the edible product is.

MisoSoup79

The weight on the can is for the ingredients, not including the packaging. This is just like tuna. 5 x 2oz=10oz, which is close to 9.75oz. Therefore, "about" 5 servings. Once you drain the juice, divide the chicken into 5- that is your serving. I do the same with my tuna- the can says 2.5 servings. I eat the whole can. Therefore I log 2.5 servings. I agree that it is frustrating that they include the liquid in the measurement, but that's just how canned foods are measured.

In the case of the tuna, you are correct. I have weighed my cans of tuna and they all weigh heavier in the can than what the can states....

HOWEVER... the can of chicken weighs exactly what it states on the can... and yet the label suggests that weight is the edible content.. which it is NOT.

Can of tuna says it weighs 5 oz... but it actually weighs in at just over 6
can of chicken says it weighs 9.75 oz.... and it does actually weigh 9.75 oz UNOPENED. And yet it tells me there are 5 servings of 2 oz. But the actual contents after draining weigh about 6.5 oz... so how is that five 2 oz servings? There are 3.25 ounces unaccounted for! Gone... Missing...

Obviously I'm just going to have to use my best judgment. But why I'm putting this out there, is that you might not be getting what you're paying for because some companies obviously include the packaging when calculating portion sizes.... therefore you may be eating less calories OR you may be screwed out of 1-2 servings, depending on the product.

arewethereyet

I guess I wouldnt buy that chicken again, and I would write a letter. Seems very deceiving to me.

I would say go with any # for 2 oz of chicken, but my boiled chicken breast has no sodium, and I am guessing the canned stuff does.

Sorry your meal is ruined!

songbyrdsweet

Confusing? That's why I love my food scale!

Unfortunately I am using a scale and that is why I say the label is misleading... because what is INSIDE the can does not equal five 2 oz. servings (it doesn't even equal four 2 oz servings). And that is why I am asking for advice. Most of the online calorie guides go by what is stated on the packaging... therefore I am left with a serving size of 1.3 ounces if I am to actually divide the contents in half. That is why I don't know if there are actually 250 calories in the can... because the math does not add up with what the actual weight of the edible product is.

You have to use the amount of chicken, not the # of servings. Whether 2 oz of chicken is half the can or not, it's going to have the calories of two oz of chicken, not half the can, get what I mean? Just use the calories for however many OUNCES of chicken you have. If 2 oz is 150 calories, 4 ounces is 300 calories.

aprilvet

Can of tuna says it weighs 5 oz... but it actually weighs in at just over 6
can of chicken says it weighs 9.75 oz.... and it does actually weigh 9.75 oz UNOPENED. And yet it tells me there are 5 servings of 2 oz. But the actual contents after draining weigh about 6.5 oz... so how is that five 2 oz servings? There are 3.25 ounces unaccounted for! Gone... Missing...

Obviously I'm just going to have to use my best judgment. But why I'm putting this out there, is that you might not be getting what you're paying for because some companies obviously include the packaging when calculating portion sizes.... therefore you may be eating less calories OR you may be screwed out of 1-2 servings, depending on the product.

Hmmmmmmmm:grumble: I think I'd send a note to my local consumer reporter- that definately sounds like false labeling.