Counting 2,000 calories per day? That number may not be accurate
Nutrition labels list daily values based on a 2,000-calorie diet, but how did this become the gold standard of calorie intake? The FDA used food consumption surveys to determine that men consume 2,000 to 3,000 calories, women consume 1,600 to 2,200 calories, and children consume 1,800 to 2,500 calories per day. To allow consumers to compare food products easily, the FDA chose 2,000 calories as the basis for nutritional labels, which show the amounts of fat, sodium, vitamins, and minerals in relation to recommended daily intake. Read this article to learn why this number is controversial.