Difference between kilocalorie and calorie in nutrition?

Answer 1

As far as food nutrition labeling goes, they are the same thing. There are two names because a calorie is defined as different things in different places. The calorie Americans have grown up with is defined as the amount of energy needed to raise 1000 grams of water 1 degree celsius. Let's call that the kilogram-based calorie. In other parts of the world, a calorie is defined as the energy needed to raise only 1 gram of water 1 degree celsius. Call that the gram-based calorie. To make the kilogram-based calorie equivalent to the gram-based calorie, you have to multiply the gram-based calorie by 1000. So, when you see CALORIE, they are talking about a kilogram-based calorie, and when you see KILOCALORIE (kCal), they are talking about 1000 gram-based calories, so they both equal the same amount of energy.

Another Answer

A calorie is an obsolete (cgsA-system) unit of measurement for energy, now replaced by the joule in the SI system.

A kilocalorie is 1000 calories.

The term, 'calorie', is misused in the nutritional industry, the correct term being 'kilocalorie'. This is little more than sloppy use of units of measurement by the nutritional industry.