Abstract

In this study we sought to determine if the caloric contents stated on food nutritional labels matched direct measurements of caloric content using bomb calorimetry. This is of potential interest because the nutritional labels on food items can often times be misleading, and not always reflect the true values. In order to test this theory, an oxygen bomb calorimeter was used to obtain the change in temperature of the water surrounding a bomb after detonation. From the data acquired in the benzoic acid trial, the calorimeter constant was calculated. Several combustion trials were executed with basic food items, such as chocolate chips. With this data, and the calorimeter constant determined using benzoic acid, the calories per serving could be calculated. The calculated calories were approximately 30 calories higher than the nutrition label. This difference can be attributed to variability in samples and to a possible overestimate of the calorimeter constant.