Are the Calorie Counts on Food Labels Accurate?

Most foods list how many calories they contain. But are they right?

By Alex Orlando
Dec 29, 2019 6:00 AMApr 26, 2020 7:37 PM
Calorie Label
Calorie counts on labels might not always be right. (Credit: Goksi/Shutterstock)

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Today, nearly every packaged food you can find includes a calorie count on the label. These numbers describe how much energy your body gets from a particular bar of candy or box of cereal. And while the effectiveness of counting calories has been debated, for many, it’s a helpful weight loss tool. But can you really count on calorie labels?

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