Hi, can anyone explain to me why calculating calories from macros may not equal the stated calories on a food packaging.
For example a 425 can of SPC baked beans (salt reduced):
3g of fat = 27cals (3x9)
48.5g of carbs = 194cals (48.5*4)
20.4g of protein = 81.6cals (20.4*4)
total = 302.6 cals
However the can states there is 349 cals.
So why such a large discrepancy?
Cheers.
|
Thread: Macros don't add up
-
11-30-2010, 06:17 AM #1
Macros don't add up
-
11-30-2010, 06:20 AM #2
-
11-30-2010, 06:36 AM #3
-
11-30-2010, 06:38 AM #4
-
-
11-30-2010, 07:25 AM #5
I don't have a camera on me so I can't post a photo at this stage.
I have a can of SPC baked beans cheesy cheddar and cross checked it with the nutritional info from the the calorieking database (calorieking dot com dot au). It is the same. And the same discrepancy appears.
I also found the same problem in birds eye thai stir fry veggies (cross checked packet against calorieking database).
The calorieking database shows % calorie breakdown, which is accurate for the calories derived from macro calculation, but not for the calories stated on the packaging.
I also checked a competing brand of baked beans and found there to be no discrepancy, which I would claim rules out fibre as the culprit.
-
11-30-2010, 07:31 AM #6
I have found a similar thread to this in the archive, called "nutrition label mismatch".
It discussed how manufacturers may deduct calories due to fibre from the total since we cannot digest it. This would lead to a lower calories stated than calculated from macros. But I have the opposite problem, the macro calculation value is lower than the stated calories
-
11-30-2010, 07:39 AM #7
-
11-30-2010, 07:44 AM #8
-
-
11-30-2010, 07:55 AM #9
-
11-30-2010, 08:03 AM #10
I can't see how rounding can make this 45 cal difference. A 10 cal difference I could understand.
45 cals = 11g protein = 11g carbs = 5g fat
I rounded the values up for the baked beans (per 100g), then multiplied by 4.25 to get the 425g can total (compounding the rounding error), but still come up 20 calories short.
-
11-30-2010, 08:25 AM #11
-
11-30-2010, 10:10 AM #12
- Join Date: Mar 2009
- Location: New York, New York, United States
- Posts: 9,196
- Rep Power: 18088
I disagree. They calories are BASED ON THE MACROS. They don't use a bomb calorimeter to measure the calories in the food.
I would NOT follow that. If you're tracking macros, then track macros. Not to mention that "safe side" would not be all that safe if you're bulking. You may end up short on calories.
Similar Threads
-
My macros don't add up, HELP
By ak1984 in forum KetoReplies: 2Last Post: 08-04-2009, 08:34 AM -
Myth Busted: Late Night Snacks Don't Add Weight
By velian in forum NutritionReplies: 3Last Post: 02-02-2006, 03:54 PM -
Macros don't add up?
By gunther44bd in forum NutritionReplies: 2Last Post: 08-04-2005, 04:37 AM -
FYI, don't add green tea extract to soda
By skinnyboy in forum SupplementsReplies: 7Last Post: 01-21-2004, 12:29 PM -
Galaxy Superior Protein, Numbers Don't Add Up!!!
By RobRob in forum SupplementsReplies: 0Last Post: 04-02-2003, 09:43 PM
Bookmarks