A fair numerical comparison begins by asking the same question of both products. This worksheet helps you compare one stated nutrient amount on a shared basis. The calculation is an organizational tool, not a recommendation to buy a particular food.
Copy the labels before deciding
For US Nutrition Facts labels, the FDA explains how serving information provides context for calorie and nutrient amounts. Start by copying each label’s serving size and the unit for the nutrient you want to compare. Do not rely on a front-of-package number without checking what amount it describes.
Choose one shared amount
Here is a fictional arithmetic exercise. Product A lists 6 g of a nutrient per 30 g of food. Product B lists 7 g per 50 g. Comparing just 6 and 7 overlooks the different food amounts.
For a common 100 g basis, Product A works out to 6 ÷ 30 × 100 = 20 g. Product B works out to 7 ÷ 50 × 100 = 14 g. Both results now describe the same weight of food. All the numbers are invented for practice.
That result answers only the selected numerical question. It does not establish that one product is healthier overall, better value, or suitable for a specific person.
Fill in your own comparison
- Product A: serving weight ___ g; selected nutrient ___; nutrient unit ___
- Product B: serving weight ___ g; selected nutrient ___; nutrient unit ___
- Shared food weight for this comparison: ___ g
- Product A calculation: nutrient amount ÷ serving weight × shared weight = ___
- Product B calculation: nutrient amount ÷ serving weight × shared weight = ___
Keep the units compatible
Use the same unit for both food weights, and the same unit for both nutrient amounts. Do not treat milligrams as grams, or assume millilitres equal grams. If a conversion requires information you do not have, leave the comparison unfinished rather than guessing.
Real labels may round figures. Keep your result at a sensible level of precision and keep the original labels with your notes so you can check the inputs later.