I thought I knew how to read nutrition labels but twice recently I found a ones that just don't make sense.
Each gram of fat is 9 calories
Each gram of carb is 4 calories
Each gram of protein is also 4 calories, is this correct?

I have one label that says 19 grams of carbs, 8 grams of protein and 3 grams of fat (all per serving). If I do the math, the total calories should be 135 but the label says 80 calories per serving.

Another says 0 fat, 22 carbs, 7 protein, total should be 116 calories, but the label says 60 calories, again all per serving.

Does anyone know where my math is wrong?

Thanks

What exactly are these items? If something is very high in fiber, the amount of fiber may be included in the carbohydrates listing (since fiber is a carbohydrate) but not included in the total calories, because it is not calorically available to the body.

Check out how many fiber grams it has, multiply that by 4 and then subtract that from the calories you are calculating. Some companies do not count the fiber carbs as part of the calories because they don't effect the blood sugar.

This also confuses me about labels ...... When a label says *Adds a trace amount of fat, what does that really mean?? Like on fat free mayo, fat free cream cheese or like spray butters and stuff........... Do they all really have fat in them if you eat more than the specified serving? I know its no big deal but I just think its weird :)

thanks
Jade

Thanks guys, adjusting for the fiber makes the formulas make sense. I had no idea fiber had no calories. I thought anything categorized as a carbohydrate, fat or protein had calories.

I don't have any feedback as to the "trace amount of fat" question. I do watch my fat intake a little, but not that closely.

mquest.

Traditionally (and I believe legally) the fiber carb's calories ARE SUPPOSED counted at 4 calories/gram. Some "diet foods" have taken to ignoring them becasue the body really doesn't use them, but then we arre faced with comparing apples and oranges.
They do the same with sugar alcohols.

It seems the government doesn't really care about these regulations anymore and companies can pretty much do as they wish.

It's a bad trend because these labels should all be counted the same way for them to be useful...but they aren't.

I've also read articles on how these companies have imposed 'rules' regarding rounding and numbers. There are some crazy rules about certain amounts/foods rounding down/up and it's hard to understand as a consumer. Basically my opinion is if you're going to count calories, just do things logically and don't overanalyze every last morsel. I mean, yes, the labels may be way off, but ultimately it doesn't matter if you're losing/maintaining anyways..