MFP giving different calories info than label on package

256Sept12
256Sept12 Posts: 41
edited January 1 in Food and Nutrition
Anyone compare the calorie intake that MFP gives you to the calorie label right on the package?

box of elbow macaroni I have here says 210 calories for 3/4 cup (56gram)

MFP says 1 cup of generic elbow macaroni (100g) is 197 calories.

I find this happens a lot. Why?

Replies

  • Aviva92
    Aviva92 Posts: 2,333 Member
    If they are just listing a non-brand specific box then it's probably an average. I'd search on the actual brand you are eating and if it's not there, I'd enter it from your box.
  • 256Sept12
    256Sept12 Posts: 41
    If they are just listing a non-brand specific box then it's probably an average. I'd search on the actual brand you are eating and if it's not there, I'd enter it from your box.

    ok, that makes sense. The macaroni i'm eating is generic and not listed there.
    I hardly ever use the MFP for calories, I just add them myself because many times MFP is off by double the amount.
  • Mguilmot
    Mguilmot Posts: 232 Member
    Almost everything I log is entered myself...
  • marlynej
    marlynej Posts: 21 Member
    found the same thing also found you have to look through a lot of different nutrition info. to find the same values that are on the packages.
  • morah29
    morah29 Posts: 107
    most everything that is put in people have not the site it's self...... and for me 9 out of 10 times it's there and right....
  • JenniferSpindel
    JenniferSpindel Posts: 56 Member
    I am in love with the barcode scanner! If you have an iphone (not sure what else it works on, but i'm sure someone knows) then you can just scan the barcode of the food you're eating and it will automatically upload.

    It was a little tedious at first cause I had to do it for everything and adjust the serving sizes I was eating, but now that it's in there... well... it's cake! Look into it if you can!
  • VelociMama
    VelociMama Posts: 3,119 Member
    Most of what is in the MFP database is user-entered data, which can be very wrong. That's why you should always check the label of what you're eating against the database to ensure that it's correct.
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    I check a few different entries for what I have, if I don't have the exact listed,.. sometimes I just pick the closest and do a Quick Add to make up for the difference.

    Even sometimes when I scan the actual label, it is not the same.. Many times I have to add the entry myself (if it is something I will be eating again)

    (edit for typos-which I hate stating because there are probably ones I have missed, then will feel stupid to admit I already fixed my typos...)
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Why?

    Most of the entries in MFP's database are user-entered items, and these people could make mistakes or they could be using an entirely different brand/etc.

    Always double check the MFP entry you choose with the nutrition label of the food item.
  • pg3ibew
    pg3ibew Posts: 1,026 Member
    Adjust, adapt and when all else fails, CHEAT the calories higher.
  • LuckyTerrier
    LuckyTerrier Posts: 73 Member
    I use the barcode scanner and have noticed that a lot of times the nutrition info is incorrect. I wish MFP app had a feature to allow you to fix or report incorrect entries because that would be easier than having to go in and create a new entry. As it is, I always double check the info that the barcode scanner brings up.
  • Blown_Away1
    Blown_Away1 Posts: 123 Member
    Why?

    Most of the entries in MFP's database are user-entered items, and these people could make mistakes or they could be using an entirely different brand/etc.

    Always double check the MFP entry you choose with the nutrition label of the food item.

    ^^ this^^

    side note: I have found even with the few notable errors this database is much closer to calorie count and nutritional value than most
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    use whats on the label. MFP stats were input by users.
  • meeka472
    meeka472 Posts: 283 Member
    I always check what MFP says against the actual label. In the cases where MFP is incorrect, I change it to the correct nutrition info.
  • dena789
    dena789 Posts: 165 Member
    I use the barcode scanner and have noticed that a lot of times the nutrition info is incorrect. I wish MFP app had a feature to allow you to fix or report incorrect entries because that would be easier than having to go in and create a new entry. As it is, I always double check the info that the barcode scanner brings up.

    It is possible to fix incorrect entries. Just be sure that you are correcting the right item. Make sure the entire container size is the same etc. There are products that have the same name in different countries. For example, Pilsbury. In Canada, the container (box) might be 500 grams and in the US it may be 16 ounces. The calorie count based on a portion of the entire package would be different from one box to the other even though both are the same product.

    For help with any of these things, look in the "Help" file at the very top of the page. Here is a link to how to change an incorrect food item in the database:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/help/faq/318-can-i-edit-incorrect-nutritional-info-for-a-food-in-the-database

    Just remember that any changes you make happen to the WHOLE database for users in ALL countries.
  • Julicat6
    Julicat6 Posts: 231 Member
    Also, labelling is allowed to be off by a certain percent anyways. I have also noticed that sometimes the same item by the same company maybe labelled differently. This week I bought Kroger Brand Cottage Cheese, lowfat. The 16 oz tub listed 1/2 C as having 90 calories while the 32 oz container listed a 1/2 cup as 100 calories while all the other nutrition information was the same. I used the higher # for my tracking. GRRR. That's part of the reason I don't eat back all my exercise calories, to cushion against mislabelling and misjudging portions.
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