Japanese national detained in Iran last year has been released, Japan's foreign minister says

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Sunday that one of twoJapanese nationals detained in Iranhas been released and is headed home.

Motegi, speaking on a Fuji Television talk show, said the person had been detained since last year and was released on Wednesday. He said the person took a flight from Azerbaijan which was scheduled to arrive in Japan on Sunday.

Kyodo News agency and other Japanese media said the former detainee later returned to Japan.

Motegi said another Japanese national who was arrested earlier this year is still in custody.

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Motegi said the release came after his repeated demands to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and that he is "working to win an early release" of the other detainee while communicating with his family and other concerned parties.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has named the person detained in Iran in January as a journalist at Japan's public broadcaster NHK. The CPJ said the NHK journalist was arrested Jan. 20 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was transferred Feb. 23 to Evin Prison, quoting unidentified sources citing fear of persecution.

Motegi did not identify either of the people detained but said the released Japanese national was detained in 2025.

The Foreign Ministry said earlier this month the detainees were safe and in good health, but only acknowledged that one was detained last year and the other one in January.

The ministry gave no further details and did not say whether the two cases were related.

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March 22, 2026

Japanese national detained in Iran last year has been released, Japan's foreign minister says

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Sunday that one of twoJapanese nationals detained in Iranha...

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Cuba plunged into second nationwide blackout in less than a week

Cuba has suffered another island-wide electrical blackout, the Ministry of EnergyannouncedSaturday evening, leaving more than 10 million people without power.

"A total disconnection of the National Electric System has occurred," the ministry said in a post on X. "Protocols for restoration are already beginning to be implemented."

Cuba was still recovering from a nationwide power grid collapse on Monday, the first since the US beganblocking fuel suppliesfrom Venezuela earlier this year. Just prior to Saturday's blackout, the country's state-owned electricity companyreportedon social media that it was expecting a power deficit of 1.704 megawatts during its busiest period on Saturday night.

US President Donald Trump has spoken frequently in recent weeks about Cuba, predicting an imminent collapse of its communist government. On Monday, he wondered aloud whether he would have the "honor of taking" the island.

"You know, all my life I've been hearing about United States and Cuba, when will the United States having the honor of taking Cuba? That's a big honor," Trump said from the White House. "Taking Cuba in some form, yeah, taking Cuba — I mean, whether I free it, take it, I think I can do anything I want with it."

The president refused to say when asked whether an operation to "take" Cuba would involve the same level of force as the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro – a key ally of Havana – in January.

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Yesterday, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said in a speech to international activists bringing humanitarian aid to the island that his government recognizes that "there could be an attack on Cuba," and is preparing accordingly.

Last week, Díaz-Canel confirmed in a national address that Cuban officials were speaking with their US counterparts about negotiations to end the fuel embargo. Since then, Cuba's government has clarified that it does not intend to negotiate about its political system.

Since Cuban revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro overthrew the regime of Fulgencio Batista in 1959, the country has been under a strict economic embargo from the United States. Cuba has weathered previous stretches of severe economic uncertainty, such as the "Special Period," when the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union cut the communist government's main source of outside assistance.

This latest crisis is similarly bleak. The lack of fuel from Mexico and Venezuela has stopped virtually all tourism to the island, disrupted education, cut services at hospitals, and prevented farmers from taking their produce to market.

CNN's Uriel Blanco, Patrick Oppmann and Anabella González contributed.

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March 22, 2026

Cuba plunged into second nationwide blackout in less than a week

Cuba has suffered another island-wide electrical blackout, the Ministry of EnergyannouncedSaturday evening, leaving more ...

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Underground Railroad museum sues Trump administration alleging it canceled grant on basis of race

An Underground Railroad museum in upstate New York alleged in a lawsuit Friday that the Trump administration unlawfully terminated its federal grant on the basis of race, pointing to President Donald Trump's efforts to dismantle diversity-focused initiatives.

The Underground Railroad Education Center, located in Albany N.Y., alleges in its lawsuit that the National Endowment for the Humanities' cancelation of a $250,000 grant amounted to viewpoint and racial discrimination, violating the First and Fifth Amendments, respectively.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of New York, calls for the funds to be reinstated.

The suit citedTrump's January 2025 executive orderthat required federal agencies to eliminate any operations supporting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within 60 days. The 40-page brief outlined 1,400 grants that were terminated in early April 2025 "for their conflict with President Trump's EOs and the new agency priorities adopted in their wake."

Nina Loewenstein, a lawyer for the museum, told NBC News that there is "just no legitimate basis" for the grant's cancellation, adding that it is "just explicitly erasing things associated with the Black race."

Loewenstein and the team of lawyers volunteering on the case through Lawyers for Good Government, an organization that provides free legal services for civil and human rights cases, argued that the Underground Railroad Education Center is just one of thousands of organizations that have been unlawfully targeted by the Trump administration.

"Numerous statements of the current Executive Branch leadership reflect overt and coded racism supporting white supremacy and denigrating Black history in America," the lawsuit said.

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It added that the administration "systematically targeted grantees and programs that sought to increase the public's understanding of Black history and cultures."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday evening.

The Trump administration has targeted museums and exhibits across the United States in an effort to enforce the president's anti-DEI directives. A judge ordered the administration last month torestore a slavery exhibit in Philadelphiaafter pieces of artwork and informational displays were removed at the President's House Site.

The administration also changed which days Americanscan visit national parks for freethis year in a November directive, removing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth. In August, it called foran expansive review of the Smithsonian's museumexhibitions, materials and operations to ensure they aligned with the president's view of history.

The Underground Railroad Education Center is based in the home of Stephen and Harriet Myers, abolitionists who helped thousands of people escape slavery in the decades leading up to the Civil War, according to the museum's co-founders, Paul and Mary Liz Stewart.

The Stewarts began working on Underground Railroad research in the late 1990s, after Mary Liz, a fifth-grade teacher at the time, heard from her students that they had almost no awareness on the subject despite the deep ties it had to their neighborhood. Since 2004, the couple has worked to restore the home and turn it into a place at the center of the community, hosting tours and activities.

The Stewarts had been working towards funding a $12 million project to construct an interpretive center next to the Myers' residence, as its current operations have outgrown the space. Losing the $250,000 grant from the NEH, they said, caused a major setback for the project.

Mary Liz said the grant "validated who we are as an organization, what we were trying to do. And in turn, sort of said to the to the wider world, this is an organization worth paying attention to."

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March 22, 2026

Underground Railroad museum sues Trump administration alleging it canceled grant on basis of race

An Underground Railroad museum in upstate New York alleged in a lawsuit Friday that the Trump administration unlawfully t...

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Rachael Leigh Cook Is 'Thrilled' “Josie and the Pussycats” Had a 'Resurrection,' but Isn't Waiting on a Sequel (Exclusive)

Rachael Leigh Cook starred in the 2001 film Josie and the Pussycats alongside Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson

NEED TO KNOW

• Cook tells PEOPLE she's thrilled the movie found an audience despite its initial box-office "flop"

• The actress says she's not expecting a sequel but is proud of the original project

Rachael Leigh Cook is "thrilled" to see thatJosie and the Pussycatsis finally having its moment 25 years after the film's release.

The actress, 46, tells PEOPLE that she's been seeing a lot of love for the movie despite mixed reviews when it first came out in 2001.

"People are rediscovering that movie after it being considered an absolute box-office flop and only getting its flowers as it were in the last couple of years, maybe the last decade or so," theShe's All Thatactress shares.

She notes that it "feels awesome" that people are finally coming around to the musical comedy.

"I don't know what to say. Better late than never," she continues. "I'm just grateful for it. It's easy to make a movie that just sort of falls into the abyss. I've certainly made a lot of those, and I'm not saying they all deserve theJosieresurrection and treatment, but I'm just glad that this very deserving movie ultimately found an audience."

Still, Cook shares that she doesn't feel "mad" or "slighted" that it took so long for the movie to land.

"I'm just glad that things panned out the way that they did ultimately," Cook confesses. "They can start small and pay off over time. Maybe this will make other movies that deserve more attention or more credit, maybe it'll bring them out of the woodwork as well."

Josie and the Pussycats, based on the Archie Comic series of the same name, was released in 2001. In addition to Cook, it starred Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson as the titular band members.

The movie debuted to a dismal box-office run and less-than-stellar reviews, but the flick has since become a cult classic. The satirical campy film also starredAlan Cumming,Parker Posey, Gabriel Mann, Paulo Costanzo andMissi Pyle.

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The music, Cook shares, is something she's always happy to hear, but she takes "zero credit" for any of it.

"That soundtrack is amazing, and I love it. Whenever I hear one of those songs, I'm happy to hear it," she tells PEOPLE. "Some of the DuJour songs were my absolute favorites; those are great, but probably 'Spin Around' and '3 Small Words' were my two favorites. Much credit to Deb [Kaplan], Harry [Elfont], and Kenny Edmonds, and what a dream team."

On the idea of revisiting the film for a reboot or sequel, Cook says, "I don't think I would need to touch it myself."

"I'm proud of what we made. Maybe if they did some time traveling, maybe there's something that could be weird and interesting," she says.

Ultimately, she shares, "I do not think that there's any talk of anything like that."

"It took long enough for people to get it the first time. We're not gonna push our luck, I don't think," she adds.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The actress, however, is no stranger to revisiting things from her past. She recentlyremade her "This Is Your Brain on Drugs" advertisementfor Beekeeper's Naturals, designed to combat allergy season. The spot, titledN.O.S.E (Natural Options for Sinus Ease), stars Cook in a play on her iconic D.A.R.E commercials from the '90s.

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March 22, 2026

Rachael Leigh Cook Is 'Thrilled' “Josie and the Pussycats” Had a 'Resurrection,' but Isn't Waiting on a Sequel (Exclusive)

Rachael Leigh Cook starred in the 2001 film Josie and the Pussycats alongside Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson NEE...

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William Shatner's Life in Photos, from “Star Trek” Icon to Real-Life Astronaut

Over his seven decades in the industry,William Shatnerhas become an out-of-this-world star.

The small screen icon turns 95 years old on March 22, 2026, and has lived quite the life in that time. Perhaps best known for his role as steady Captain Kirk onStar Trek,he has a career that extends through decades of movies and television series, plus work in music, books and — in 2024 at the age of 90 — outer space!

Here, as he marks another trip around the sun, celebrate Shatner's life in photos.

William Shatner's Early Years

Born on March 22, 1931, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada,William Shatnergrew to fame as a television star, most famously as the original Captain James T. Kirk in theStar Trekfranchise, and expanded his repertoire into film, books and video games.

William Shatner's Marriage to Gloria Rand

He met his first wife, actress Gloria Rand, while making his self-written television playDreams. They tied the knot in August 1956 and welcomed three daughters over the course of their 13-year marriage. Of their divorce, Shatner wrote in his autobiographyUp Till Nowthat his marriage to Rand was "lopsided" and he "wasn't good at being married."

"I was working so hard to support my family and resented Gloria because I was getting so little joy out of my marriage," he confessed in the book. "She resented me for … for probably many reasons. So Gloria stayed home with our girls and it seemed like each week new and beautiful — and seemingly available — women showed up on the set."

William Shatner on 'For the People'

His early roles included John Crane and Jim Whitley onAlfred Hitchcock Presents(1957-1960), Bob Wilson and Don Carter onThe Twilight Zone(1960-1963) and New York City assistant district attorney David Koster onFor the People(1965).

William Shatner on 'Star Trek'

Shatner landed the role of Captain James T. Kirk in the originalStar Trekseries in 1966, which ran until 1969. The show, which also starredLeonard Nimoy,DeForest Kelley,Nichelle Nichols, James Doohan andGeorge Takei, went on to become the most successful TV sci-fi franchise ever and spawned a loyal fan base who call themselves Trekkies.

William Shatner in the 'Star Trek' Films

The actor went on to voice Kirk in 1973'sStar Trek: The Animated Series, and starred in the 1979 motion picture.

William Shatner's Marriage to Marcy Lafferty

Shatner married fellow actress Marcy Lafferty in 1973, three years after they met on set of the 1970 movieThe Andersonville Trial. During their relationship, the couple became involved in breeding, rearing and riding American saddlebred show horses, perThe Washington Post.

Their marriage ended in a "relatively amicable" divorce in 1996, according to Shatner in his autobiography.

William Shatner in the 'Star Trek' Films

Years later, he got back in the saddle as Kirk in the next two film installments ofStar Trek:The Wrath of Khan(1982) andThe Search for Spock(1984).

William Shatner on 'Barbary Coast'

In 1975, the star led the TV westernBarbary Coastas Jeff Cable, alongside Doug McClure (Cash Conover, pictured), Richard Kiel (Moose Moran) and Dave Turner (Thumbs).

William Shatner on 'T.J. Hooker'

He took the lead on the action-crime dramaT.J. Hooker(1982-1986) withHeather Locklear(Officer Stacy Sheridan), James Darren (Officer Jim Corrigan) and Adrian Zmed (Officer Vince Romano).

William Shatner's Marriage to Nerine Kidd

While Shatner directed an episode ofKung Fu: The Legend Continuesin 1994, he crossed paths with his soon-to-be third wife, Nerine Kidd. They wed in November 1997, "against the advice" of Shatner's family and friends, he toldThe Sydney Morning Herald11 years later.

Kidd, who struggled with alcoholism, died on Aug. 9, 1999, after Shatner discovered her unconscious in their pool.

"Sometimes I berate her for not having stopped drinking," he toldTheSydney Morning Herald. "Sometimes I tell her it's OK, that I am thinking about her, that she is alive in my mind. But you never get over it."

In her memory, Shatner founded the Nerine Shatner Foundation, connected to a halfway house with room for 11 women.

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William Shatner in 'Miss Congeniality'

He also joinedSandra BullockinMiss Congeniality(2000) as Stan Fields.

William Shatner's Music Career

In addition to acting, Shatner has a passion for music. He released his albumBillin September 2021; it includes appearances from music starsJoe Jonas,Brad Paisleyand Joe Walsh.

William Shatner Receives the Order of Canada

In 2019, the star was inducted into the Order of Canada — the second-highest merit honor in the country — in recognition of his decades-long acting career and philanthropic efforts.

William Shatner's Books

He's also authored several books, including a memoir calledWilliam Shatner: Live Long and ... What I learned Along the Way,Leonard, a look into Shatner andStar Trekcostar and late friend Leonard Nimoy's friendship, andThe TekWar Series, which was later adapted into comics.

William Shatner's Personal Life

Shatner married his fourth wife Elizabeth Martin in 2001 after meeting through letter correspondence. Speaking toThe Guardianin 2014, he explained that he fell for Martin because of a "combination of beauty, style, intelligence, humor and loving horses and dogs and children and loving her home and making a home for us."

He filed for divorce from Martin in 2019, and the pair reached a settlement in March 2020. Three years later, the two attended the Living Legends of Aviation Awards together, and in an interview withThe Mirror, he referred to Martin as "my wife."

William Shatner as a Dad

The actor has three adult daughters, all of whom he welcomed with his first wife Rand.

William Shatner Goes to Space

On Oct. 13, 2021, the real-life Captain Kirk made history asthe oldest person to travel to spaceat 90 years old (though the record would be broken in 2024 by Ed Dwight). Shatner was one of four crew members who completed the11-minute journeyon the New Shepard rocket for the NS-18 mission, thanks toJeff Bezos' aerospace company Blue Origin.

"It's life-changing in its way, not because of the aerial adventure, but because of the people I'm meeting," Shatner said in a video that aired duringBlue Origin's livestreamabout fellow space travelers Audrey Powers, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries.

William Shatner Goes to Space

Upon landing, Shatner and his crew were met with applause and a hug from Jeff Bezos.

"In a way, it's indescribable," the actor told Bezos, who made his owntrip to spacethe July prior.

"Not only is it different from what you thought, it happens so quickly," he added duringBlue Origin's livestream.

The star got emotional, sharing hiswish for all humans to experience the wonders of space travel.

"Everybody in the world needs to do this," Shatner said. "Everybody in the world needs to see."

William Shatner's Life Now

In September 2025, it was reported that Shatner had beenhospitalized, but the star dispelled concerns with a playful meme onXthat read "rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!"

"I over indulged," he wrote alongside the meme. "I thank you all for caring but I'm perfectly fine. I keep telling you all: don't trust tabloids or AI! 😉."

For Thanksgiving later that year, Shatner shared a celebratoryInstagrampost about how "thankful" and "blessed beyond measure" he is "with [health], family and a beautiful gathering."

He starred in a cheeky2026 Super Bowlcommercial promotingKellogg's Raisin Bran, saying to PEOPLE, "Is there anything more prestigious than having a commercial on the Super Bowl?"

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William Shatner's Life in Photos, from “Star Trek” Icon to Real-Life Astronaut

Over his seven decades in the industry,William Shatnerhas become an out-of-this-world star. The small screen i...

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Will There Be a Season 2 of “The Madison”? What We Know About the Latest Taylor Sheridan Show's Future

The Madison, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell, premiered on March 14

NEED TO KNOW

• The first season consisted of six episodes, released in two batches on Paramount+

• In January 2026, Russell gave an update on season 2 before season 1 debuted

More Montana majesty awaits forThe Madison.

On March 21,The Madison, the latest series fromYellowstonecreatorTaylor Sheridanconcluded its first season. StarringMichelle PfeifferandKurt Russell, the emotional drama consisted of six episodes and followed the Clyburn family as they moved from New York City to Montana, all while dealing with a heartbreaking loss.

Paramount+describedthe series as "a heartfelt study of grief and human connection," calling it "Sheridan's most intimate work to date."

Christina Voros, who directed all ofThe Madison's first season, toldThe Hollywood Reporterin March 2026, "It is a simpler story in many ways on the surface, but infinitely more complicated, emotionally, underneath it."

"There are an abundance of river references to be made when describingThe Madison," she said.

Season 1 ofThe Madisoncame to an end on March 21, but the story of the Clyburns isn't over.

Here's everything to know aboutThe Madisonseason 2, and what Russell has already said about filming.

Will there be a season 2 ofThe Madison?

The Madisonseason 2 has already been filmed.

In January 2026, Russell toldEntertainment Weeklyhow the shooting schedule forThe Madisonwas adjusted so he could join the series as he was set to be filmingMonarch: Legacy of Monsterswhile the Sheridan show was in production.

"Michelle Pfeiffer and Taylor were able to get together with the people at Paramount+ and said, 'Well, let's do two seasons instead of just one,' " he explained.

Russell continued, "'And then before we start the second season next year, instead of doing that, we will start with Kurt's stuff. We really do want him to play the guy. And we'll get his first season out of the way first, and jam all that in there, and then go into the second season and do that.' And so we were able to do that."

Season 1 ofThe Madisonconsisted of six episodes, and so will season 2, according to Russell.

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Who is inThe Madisonseason 2 cast?

Pfeiffer and Russell have already filmedThe Madisonseason 2, but the other cast members joining them have not been confirmed.

The rest of the season 1 cast includes Beau Garrett, Elle Chapman,Patrick J. Adams, Amiah Miller, Alaina Pollack, Ben Schnetzer, Kevin Zegers, Rebecca Spence, Danielle Vasinova andWill Arnett.

One actor who won't be returning isMatthew Fox, who plays Paul Clyburn, Russell's character Preston's younger brother.

"This is a contained experience for me in the show, and I'm very happy about that," theLostactor toldTV Insiderahead of the show's finale. "It's been an incredible experience."

What willThe Madisonseason 2 be about?

Plot details for season 2 have not been revealed, but look for future episodes to continue the chronicles of the Clyburns.

In a March 2026 interview withThe Wrap, Pfeiffer said season 2 has "a surprising amount of laughs and comical relief."

"I think that in the first season it goes in between sorrow and grief and denial and trying to be stoic, and all of those confusing feelings when you've had a traumatic loss in your life," she explained. "And so Season 2, I think it's a little more raw and more in sinking in."

When willThe Madisonseason 2 come out?

A premiere date for a potential season 2 ofThe Madisonhas not been confirmed, but season 1 debuted in March 2026.

The members of the cast are hoping the series keeps going long after season 2.

"I think I speak for everyone when I say we would shoot this gladly forever," Adams, who portrays Russell McIntosh, toldThe Hollywood Reporter. "We've found something kind of miraculously special here and as long as it's a story that people want to hear, we'd be happy to tell it."

Where can I watchThe Madison?

The Madisonis available to stream onParamount+.

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Will There Be a Season 2 of “The Madison”? What We Know About the Latest Taylor Sheridan Show's Future

The Madison , starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell, premiered on March 14 NEED TO KNOW The first season...

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Can you trust calorie counts on food labels? What the nutrition scientists say

The math it took to calculate the number of calories in your favorite snack involved a lot more guesstimation than you may think.

The Food and Drug Administration began requiringstandardized nutrition labeling— including the number of calories per serving — on most packaged foods in 1990. Obesity rates skyrocketed in the United States over the next few decades, spurring a 2016 change to the rule tolist calorie countson nutrition labels in a large, bold font.

Just how accurate are these calorie counts?

The popular protein bar brand David is currentlyfighting a lawsuitalleging the company's bars contain nearly twice as many calories as the labels claim, based on independent testing. The company's founder said the lawsuit used an incorrect testing method to measure calories, and that the fat substitute the company uses in the protein bars does not contain as many calories as true fat does (about 9 calories per gram).

Nutrition scientists say there's wide variation in how many nutrients and calories each person absorbs during digestion.

That's why theFDA allows a discrepancy of up to 20% when counting calories.

For example, if a frozen meal is labeled as having 500 calories, it could have as many as 600 calories and still be compliant, said Lindsay Moyer, a registered dietitian at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Dr. Zhaoping Li, chief of the clinical nutrition division at UCLA, said the amount of energy we get from food is affected by many factors, such as "how well your stomach digests it, how much is absorbed in your small intestine, and what energy can be harvested after the microbiome works on it on the large intestine."

Together, these variables can cause inconsistencies between how many calories a food actually contains and how many are listed on that food's nutrition label — even if a company has made an earnest attempt at calculating them.

"It's guesswork," Li said.

Or as Marion Nestle, a professor emerita of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, puts it: "Calories are kind of eye-rolling."

How do you measure calories in food?

The most accurate method to measure energy and calories in food is called a bomb calorimeter, Li said. The process works on the theory that when one thing releases heat — in this case, food — it's absorbed by another, in this case whoever is digesting that food, as energy.

To make this calculation, food scientists seal a piece of food in a pressurized, oxygen-filled steel container — the "bomb." That container is encased in an insulated box filled with water.

The scientists light the food on fire and let it burn completely. Then, they take the temperature of the water. They use an equation to tell them how much energy — and therefore calories — are in that piece of food, based on how much the burning piece of food raised the temperature of the water surrounding it.

But the bomb calorimeter's calculations can be flawed, Nestle said.

"Not all the components of foods are absorbed, and the only thing that counts for calories is what gets absorbed across the intestinal wall — fiber calories, for example, don't count," she said.

Nestle said it's much more common for food manufacturers to estimate the number of calories in packaged food using an Atwater factor. This mathematical equation uses a fixed number of calories per gram for macronutrients, specifically fat, carbohydrates and protein.

Every gram of carbohydrates — which include sugar — contains about 4 calories. The same is true for protein. Fat contains about 9 calories per gram. Food scientists can get a basic estimate of the number of calories in a food based on this equation.

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"And that is close enough," Nestle said. "You have to be comfortable with approximations."

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Some companies, particularly restaurants looking to calculate calorie counts for menu items, may use a U.S. Department of Agriculturedatabasethat houses calorie estimates for individual foods, such as a roma tomato or a commercially prepared slice of white bread. They may also use a more specific database calculation program that takes into account the restaurant's suppliers, CSPI's Moyer, said.

Still, this involves a bit of guesswork.

"Let's say they get ingredients from a supplier. That supplier may have already done an analysis, but then it may be cooked or processed in a way that changes the nutrients of the ingredient," Moyer said.

Then there's the human factor. Restaurants that prepare food in-house likely have more variation in calorie counts than, say, a protein bar.

"If someone makes your sandwich at a place that makes subs, you might see them grab a preweighed slab of meat, so these calorie counts could be pretty accurate. But then if they take a squeeze bottle of sauce and just go for a while, that will vary," Moyer said. "I wouldn't treat calorie labels on a menu the same as a prepackaged food such as a bar."

Few calories from fiber

Certain kinds of food are harder to break down, meaning the body actually absorbs fewer calories from them than a label may state.

For example, accurate calorie counts are particularly difficult to calculate for plant foods, which have cell walls that can be heard for teeth to break through, since chewing is the first phase of digestion, Moyer said.

"People typically absorb slightly fewer calories for these foods than what the label calculates," she said.

Almonds are another good example, she said. People absorb more calories from almond butter than from whole almonds because "it's basically chewed for you."

Several studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture have found thatwhole almonds,cashews,lentils and chickpeasall have fewer calories once digested than what labels estimate. Walnuts, which are rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, have 21% fewer calories than typically believed,according to USDA estimates.

Insoluble fiber is another nutrient that may not contribute any calories at all, since the body doesn't have the enzymes necessary to digest its chemical bonds — meaning it passes through the digestive system without getting broken down into energy. Whole grains, nuts, seeds and the skins of fruits and vegetables contain insoluble fiber: While they do have calories from sugars, fats and proteins, the calories that come from insoluble fiber aren't absorbed.

"Generally, fiber is a carbohydrate that we can't fully break down and digest, so fiber has few, if any, digestible calories," Moyer said.

The large intestine can extract some, but not all, calories from another type of fiber, called soluble fiber. Oats, beans, lentils, apples and avocados all have high soluble fiber content. Soluble fibercan also preventthe digestive system from absorbing some fat and cholesterol.

So, should you trust calorie counts?

There's limited research measuring the accuracy of packaged food labels, and the FDA doesn't test every product on the market.

"It's sort of 'buyer beware' if the facts on a nutrition label sound too good to be true," Moyer said. "Compare it to similar products; if you are looking at a row of peanut butter and you see one that is 120 calories per serving when all the rest of them say 180 calories per serving, that would raise a red flag for me."

Paying attention to the calorie counts on nutrition labels is a good place to start, she said, but no company can claim to calculate calories down to the single digit, for example, that a portion of frozen pizza has 352 calories.

"Folks mean well, and the calculation software will spit a number out to you to the precise calorie, but that's a joke. No one knows to that degree," Moyer said.

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March 22, 2026

Can you trust calorie counts on food labels? What the nutrition scientists say

The math it took to calculate the number of calories in your favorite snack involved a lot more guesstimation than you ma...

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