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Vast differences in Red Lentil Nutrition

kuftae
kuftae Posts: 299 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
It all comes down to weight, but why? How can lentils differ in nutritional density so much?

Kroger Red lentils: 1 serving (.25cup. 35g) = 120 calories per serving
Bobs Mill Red Lentils: 1 Serivng (.25 cup. 52g) = 190 calories per serving
ziyad Red Lentils: 1 serving (.25 cup. 57g) = 150 calories per serving

The weights are different. The calories are different. But Bob's red mill weighs less than Ziyad per 1/4 cup yet has more calories (and nutrition).

Also, I did get these facts from the website. Why are the nutritional densities different? or is it something else?

Replies

  • kuftae
    kuftae Posts: 299 Member
    Are these actually slightly different legumes being marketed as "red lentils?"
  • mattdhall
    mattdhall Posts: 85 Member
    I don't know for certain, but my guess would be that different processing methods or genetic variations in the lentils being used results in a smaller or differently shaped grain allowing more lentils to fit in a smaller space with less air gap between the lentils.
  • CafeRacer808
    CafeRacer808 Posts: 2,396 Member
    A couple of things:

    1) Nutritional labeling laws allow for a 20% margin of error.

    2) The difference between your first two examples is only .2 calories/gram. It's likely that Ziyad uses smaller beans.
  • KinoM
    KinoM Posts: 359 Member
    As per the USDA website red lentils are about 3.6 kcal per gram, which matches your first 2 entries by weight. The third one is likely just wrong, or for cooked rather than raw lentils. The moral of the story is, always go by weight.
  • CyberTone
    CyberTone Posts: 7,337 Member
    Awesome, this is a perfect example of total Calories on the Nutrition Facts label differing, depending on whether the Calories from dietary fiber count in the total Calories or not.

    According to the US FDA Nutrition Labeling Guidelines, the US FDA allows companies to either count the dietary fiber Calories in the total Calories, or not. Most companies in the US count the Calories from dietary fiber (reference the Kroger and Bob's Red Mill brands) in the total Calories, and some companies subtract the Calories from dietary fiber (reference the Ziyad brand) in the total Calories.

    Ziyad per their website is an importing company based in Chicago, IL. Nearly all countries except the US subtract dietary fiber from total carbohydrates, which normally results in lower total Calories per gram for food high in dietary fiber.

    Although, this does not explain how Kroger brand only gets 35g per quarter cup, whereas Bob's Red Mill gets 57g per quarter cup. Possibly the Kroger brand are whole lentils and Bob's Red Mill are split lentils? Don't know for sure.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    1/4 cup means nothing relative to grams. It all depends on how that company measure, how tightly packed the lentils are, their size, etc. The lentils are probably sourced differently (different growers) by different companies, and how something is grown can affect its nutritional value because the soil, fertilizer, watering, etc all varies. All nutrition and calories are ESTIMATES.
  • lemmie177
    lemmie177 Posts: 479 Member
    CyberTone wrote: »
    Awesome, this is a perfect example of total Calories on the Nutrition Facts label differing, depending on whether the Calories from dietary fiber count in the total Calories or not.

    According to the US FDA Nutrition Labeling Guidelines, the US FDA allows companies to either count the dietary fiber Calories in the total Calories, or not. Most companies in the US count the Calories from dietary fiber (reference the Kroger and Bob's Red Mill brands) in the total Calories, and some companies subtract the Calories from dietary fiber (reference the Ziyad brand) in the total Calories.

    Ziyad per their website is an importing company based in Chicago, IL. Nearly all countries except the US subtract dietary fiber from total carbohydrates, which normally results in lower total Calories per gram for food high in dietary fiber.

    Although, this does not explain how Kroger brand only gets 35g per quarter cup, whereas Bob's Red Mill gets 57g per quarter cup. Possibly the Kroger brand are whole lentils and Bob's Red Mill are split lentils? Don't know for sure.

    Thanks for this, I had no idea there was an option to include fiber calories.
    I was just having the same annoying issue with brown lentils and couldn't figure out the huge difference in calorie density.
    nfxhfzb26lbm.jpg
    Now, it's clear that the Great Value lentils don't include fiber in the calorie total. But which measure is more appropriate for us trying to estimate energy balance?
This discussion has been closed.

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