In conclusion, when a food label says a food contains 100 calories, it actually means 100 kilocalories.
Thank you for your question! The terms “calorie” and “kcal” are used interchangeably but technically they represent different units of measurement. In scientific terms, a calorie (cal) is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. However, when you see a “calorie” on a food label, it is actually referring to kilocalorie. A kilocalorie (kcal) is equal to 1000 calories,. Its the unit commonly used to measure the energy content in food. In conclusion, when a food label says a food contains 100 calories, it actually means 100 kilocalories. The term “calorie” on food labels is used more for simplicity and consumer understanding. I hope that answered your question!