Posts: 6,206
2/8/11 9:16 A

I buy the TJ mahi-mahi burgers and they now say around 110 calories per burger!! I don't know what to believe where their labels are concerned.

I know their chicken sausage links have around the same calories listed as the ones I buy from Sam's Club so I feel comfortable about those, not so sure about the BBQ Terriyaki chicken although I still put in what it says on the label.

I've lost almost 40 pounds while eating it, so I suppose it's close or else it's not way higher in calories than what is listed on the label.

Posts: 14,426
1/13/11 4:52 P

I can't remember what item it was (I want to say the Mahi burgers) and it was like 200 calories or something and then about 6 months later, after they had been on and off in carrying them, I looked at the nutritional label and it said it was 525 calories!! It was like that for about a month and then went back to the original cal. info.

I think they're a little lax in quality control where the nutrition labels are concerned because something like that should have never gotten past anyone.

Pounds lost: 226.0

0 81 162 243

324

SparkPoints: (32,990)
Fitness Minutes: (16,260)
Posts: 11,581
4/7/10 12:15 P

As a general rule, if I think the calorie count sounds to low for what I am eating I add 25% more calories.

current weight: 199.0

214.8 199.85 184.9 169.95

155

Posts: 6,206
4/7/10 10:52 A

I really question the calorie amounts on the servings because for instance the orange Mandarian chicken has a batter on it. It's not dripping grease like the one in restaurants, but there is no way that something that tasty and battered is that low in calories unless it is for maybe 3-4 pieces.

The thing that concerns me with the BBQ teriyaki chicken is the fact it is dark meat although there is no skin and it's not battered or fried so I can see why it has less calories than the other chicken.

I just don't want to go over my calorie intake for the day so that's why I am concerned about the calories listed on the bag. If I included brown rice (although I don't eat much of that) and other things I could have a huge dinner (calorie wise) and not realize it.

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4/7/10 10:03 A

I've always been a little suspicious of their nutritionals. Also, I wonder if it's because maybe their products come from smaller companies/suppliers who are maybe are not as accurate with their nutritionals as some big companies like Kraft for example.

current weight: 133.0

178 162.25 146.5 130.75

115

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Posts: 11,581
4/6/10 6:42 P

Beware, nutritional labels can be off by as much as 25% according to the FDA and it is allowed. If you think it is to low, then add more calories into the count because it probably is.

There was something that came out about TJ's mandarine orange chicken that the calorie count on the package was actually lower than what it really is. They don't need to correct it though, because it is within the 25% off the FDA allows.

current weight: 199.0

214.8 199.85 184.9 169.95

155

Posts: 6,206
4/6/10 2:24 P

I don't have the bag here with me but I checked online and this is what it states for the nutritional info on the Mandarian orange chicken. This is white chicken which has a batter-like covering on it, sort of like what you see when you get sweet and sour chicken at a Chinese restaurant.

1 cup - serving size
Calories - 230
fat - 8 g
total carbs - 23 g
sugar - 19 g
protein - 16 g

One site I looked at said the following:
There are 190 calories in 1 serving of Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken without Sauce.

For the Teriyaki BBQ Chicken it says the following:
Serving Size 1 cup (170g)
Calories - 150

% Daily Values*
Total Fat 3.5g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 70mg 23%
Sodium 570mg 24%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Sugars 11g
Protein 18g
Vitamin A 2% Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 2% Iron 4%

This meat is dark meat, which is skinless.




Edited by: KISSFAN1 at: 4/6/2010 (14:25)

Posts: 20,378
4/6/10 1:33 P

For the most part they are comparable to other products, but I agree on being careful if it looks too good to be true.

Pounds lost: 11.0

0 3 6 9

12

Posts: 2,239
4/6/10 12:00 P

Well, of course there are always SOME variations in the nutritionals given...but I understand what you mean.

Have you compared similar items in TJ's to brands carried in other stores? Right now I have a bag of Foster Farms Mandarin Orange chicken in the freezer & it states a 3oz (84g) serving of chicken with 1 Tbsp (20g) sauce is 225 calories. Does that compare to yours? My family loves TJ's Orange chicken. I usually load mine up with veggies & limit the meat/sauce...but still.

With people being more health conscience these days I also wonder about the honestly of manufactures nutritionals. We just have to trust them to a certain degree & be smart not to rely on them 100%.

I wonder how much these are regulated anymore???

current weight: 146.6

168 159.75 151.5 143.25

135

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4/6/10 10:55 A

1 cup is not very much. Also, does that mean 1 cup mashed in as tight as you can or just spooned in? Check how many servings the whole package has.

I know that the Cheddar Cheese with Carmelized onion has what looks like the correct calories but the calories from fat is definitely wrong.

current weight: 221.8

232 213.5 195 176.5

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Posts: 6,206
4/6/10 9:56 A

I am a HUGE fan of Trader Joe's and love almost everything I buy there. I worry though about the calorie content of some of the items there being incorrect.

For instance, I used to buy the frozen teriyaki bbq chicken all the time. It is dark meat chicken and says on the label it has 150 calories for 1 cup of chicken/sauce.

Could that possibly be right? The mandarin orange chicken has some type of batter on it and says it has 230 calories for 1 cup.

I love both of these items, but I'm really afraid of buying them because now that I am aware of how many calories items have, it seems very low to me for these items.