Reading labels
Work out Grams per scoop, Kcal per scoop and Displacement from an Australian or New Zealand formula label.
To make up a Recipe you need two numbers for the formula: Kcal per scoop and Displacement. Labels in Australia and New Zealand don't print either, but both can be worked out from what they do print.
AU/NZ labels give energy per 100 mL of prepared formula and a Reconstitution statement: how much prepared formula a known amount of powder and water makes. They don't give energy per 100 g of powder, so the method works from the Reconstitution statement.
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Step 0 What to find on the label
- Energy per 100 mL of prepared formula, in kcal, from the nutrition table.
- The Reconstitution statement: an amount of powder, an amount of water, and the volume of prepared formula they make.
- If your label gives % w/v instead of a prepared volume: prepared volume = grams ÷ (% w/v ÷ 100). For example, 4.6 g ÷ 0.138 = 33.3 mL.
- If your label gives no prepared volume at all: the label can't give you Displacement. Ask the manufacturer's careline or check its data sheet.
- Grams per scoop, usually near the preparation instructions.
NAN OPTIPRO 1
Energy: 67 kcal per 100 mL
Reconstitution statement: 129 g powder + 900 mL water makes 1 L
Grams per scoop: 4.3 g
Aptamil Gold+ 1
Energy: 69 kcal per 100 mL
Reconstitution statement: 1 scoop + 50 mL water makes approximately 55 mL
Grams per scoop: 7.5 g
Step 1 Grams per scoop
Read it straight off the label.
You only need it when the Reconstitution statement gives the powder in grams.
NAN OPTIPRO 1
The label says: “Average scoop weight = 4.3 g”
Grams per scoop: 4.3 g
Aptamil Gold+ 1
The label says: “1 scoop = 7.5 g”
Grams per scoop: 7.5 g
Step 2 Scoops in the Reconstitution statement
Scoops = grams of powder ÷ Grams per scoop
Skip this if the statement already counts Scoops.
NAN OPTIPRO 1
Scoops: 129 ÷ 4.3 = 30
Aptamil Gold+ 1
Scoops: 1, given in the statement.
Step 3 Displacement
Displacement = (prepared volume − water) ÷ Scoops
Whatever the prepared volume has on top of the water came from the powder.
NAN OPTIPRO 1
Displacement: (1000 − 900) ÷ 30 = 3.33 mL
Aptamil Gold+ 1
Displacement: (55 − 50) ÷ 1 = 5.00 mL
Step 4 Kcal per scoop
Kcal per scoop = kcal per 100 mL × (prepared volume ÷ Scoops) ÷ 100
Each Scoop makes (prepared volume ÷ Scoops) mL of prepared formula, and the label gives the energy in every 100 mL of it.
NAN OPTIPRO 1
Kcal per scoop: 67 × (1000 ÷ 30) ÷ 100 = 22.3
Aptamil Gold+ 1
Kcal per scoop: 69 × 55 ÷ 100 = 38.0
Notes
Energy: use the kcal figure the label prints. Only if it prints kJ alone, kcal = kJ ÷ 4.184.
Precision: keep Kcal per scoop to 1 decimal place and Displacement to 2.
“Approximately” statements
Some Reconstitution statements say a Scoop and water make approximately a volume, such as “makes approximately 55 mL”. Displacement worked out from them is less certain, by about ±1 mL per Scoop.
Result for NAN OPTIPRO 1
22.3 kcal per scoop · 3.33 mL Displacement
Label accessed 29 Sep 2026. Check against your tin.
Result for Aptamil Gold+ 1
38.0 kcal per scoop · 5.00 mL Displacement
Label accessed 29 Sep 2026. Check against your tin.
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