Recently our food labels have gone through some changes. Serving sizes have been updated and the addition of how much added sugar is included in a food item are really helpful in controlling what we eat. However one of the most important aspects of the nutrition label is still relying on century-old methodologies. Wilbur Atwater is considered the father of modern nutrition research and education. He developed the Atwater system, which measures food energy. His research created the "4-9-4 rule" which states each gram of protein contributes 4 Calories to the caloric total, each gram of fat contributes 9 Calories, and each gram of carbohydrates contributes 4 Calories. HE created this system in 1887. The USDA and virtually all food producers still use this method when creating calorie counts. But over the last 10 years, nutritionists have called for the system to be updated. For one thing, they say the present system ignores the difference between raw and cooked food. Studies have shown that processed foods are easier for the body to absorb and therefore raw foods actually contribute less calories. USDA researchers found that hat the caloric value of pistachios had been overstated by 5% on the nutrition label and that almonds were overstated by 32%, or 40 calories per serving. Another study looked at two dozen snack foods and found the average calorie county was 4% higher than labeled. But even if most calorie counts are slightly off, it’s still useful to compare the numbers listed on various brands. On the other hand, for people who have been given daily calorie limits by a nutritionist and are carefully counting their calories, the differences may add up.