USDA disagrees with the box - who to trust?

Dom_m

I'm trying to enter couscous that I had for lunch, and the box says 1 serve of 100g has 341 kcal / 1448 kj. Also, 11.3g proteing, 71g carbs and not much else. The ingredients are pure durum wheat semolina. Nothing else (just add hot water).

But USDA gives the calorie count for 100g as 112 calories. Just under 1/3 of the calories on the label!!

And it says there're only 23g of carbs - also just under 1/3 what the label says.

So am I eating 341 cal (71g carbs) or 1112 cals (23g carbs)???

The brand is Sapori Mediterranei, an Italian label. The info on the box is definitely not for a recipe or something other than straight up couscous.

Any ideas?

tlblood

I always go based on the label if I have it. It will be more accurate than a generic estimate.

deedeehawaii

http://www.wheatfoods.org/_FileLibrary/Product/43/Couscous.pdf
and
http://www.fitday.com/webfit/FoodFacts_outside.html?FoodID=20029&OwnerID=13
1 cup cooked = 176 calories

http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/cereal-grains-and-pasta/5698/2
1 cup DRY (173 g) = 651 calories

http://www.ou.org/shabbat/recipes/5765/vayetzei65.htm
1 cup dry couscous = 2-1/2 cups cooked

So, the difference you are seeing is probably the difference between a cup of cooked couscous (176 calories), and a cup of dry (ie uncooked) at 651 calories.

Dom_m

Ahh! Thanks a lot, that makes complete sense (since it expands so much, there'd be 3 times less food in the same volume after it absorbs all the water)

Cheers