Second, absolutely as Carol says, food companies COULD be 20% under. But the chances of that? In the race to have the best tasting, lowest (stated) calorie treats, it is not likely that the numbers are going to come in UNDER the stated number. As a matter of fact, in our discussions with a food industry source, companies are quite aware of the leeway afforded and some take full advantage. And it’s not illegal, it’s allowed. And that’s fine. But we should know about it when we make our buying decisions. And that’s where Girlgetstrong feels strongly: open and honest communication of the facts on the label. If there is the potential for a difference, just state it. People can make up their own minds.

I guess the biggest point is this: as consumers, we need to be aware. There needs to be transparency. And if there is a chance that a product that I’m buying has up to 20% MORE calories than stated, we should all know that, right? Because for people counting every last calorie, this is not just an “error tolerance”, it’s the difference between losing weight – or not. It can be very discouraging and debilitating to one’s self confidence to think you are doing everything right, but not see a difference on the scale or on your body shape, when you are trying so hard.

Thanks for some great thoughtful insight, Carol! Talking about this issue is the best way to educate people. We sure appreciate the time you took to add your comment

Small companies that use database analysis (software), are more likely to have inaccurate info, especially if they do the work themselves rather than having a nutrition labeling professional do it. And some will try to fudge the numbers, but in most cases it’s simply human error, lack of consistency between original recipe and the scale-up quantities for mass production, and/or lack of knowledge on the part of the person doing the analysis.