The printed labels of foods may be changed in the future to reflect a new discovery that cooked food contains more calories than it would if it was eaten raw.
A study carried out at Harvard University, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, fed mice the same kind of sweet potatoes and organic beef, but prepared differently.
Animals given the meat and vegetables pre-cooked gained more weight than those eating the foods raw.
It is now thought that this is an important factor in human evolution, as when people first discovered fire and were able to cook their food, they could get the calories they needed for extra brain function and size.
The discovery may require minor changes to the peelable labels on foods that can be eaten both raw and cooked.
Earlier this week, a poll by CLIF Kid found that 42 per cent of parents find nutrition labels confusing.
Denny Bros Ltd, 10 November 2011
