“Per 100g” shows the nutritional content for exactly 100 grams of the product, creating a universal standard for comparison. This is incredibly useful because different brands often have different serving sizes, making direct comparison difficult. When you see “per 100g,” you’re getting a level playing field to judge which product is actually healthier.
For instance, if you’re comparing two brands of cookies, Brand A might list serving size as “3 cookies (30g)” while Brand B lists “2 cookies (25g).” This makes it hard to compare directly. But when you look at the “per 100g” values, you can easily see which brand has more sugar, fat, or calories in the same weight of product.
Here’s a practical example: Snack A shows 10g sugar per 100g, while Snack B shows 20g sugar per 100g. This immediately tells you that Snack B is twice as sweet as Snack A, regardless of how they define their serving sizes. This comparison method works for all nutrients – protein, fiber, sodium, and calories.
The “per 100g” format is especially helpful when shopping for similar products like breakfast cereals, crackers, or yogurts. You can quickly scan the labels and choose the option with lower sugar, less sodium, or higher protein per 100g. This standardized measurement takes the guesswork out of healthy shopping and helps you make informed decisions based on actual nutritional density rather than confusing serving size variations.