How can I tell how much calcium is in the food I buy?

For packaged foods, the %DV for calcium on food labels is based on 1000 milligrams of calcium.

As a result, simply multiplying the number next to the "%" by 10 will yield the actual milligrams of calcium that one serving provides.*

For example, if the label reads 15% calcium: (15x10) = 150, so one serving provides 150 milligrams of calcium.

For fresh foods that don’t have labels, use the USDA’s searchable on-line food composition database.

*Because the numeric "basis" for the %DV varies by nutrient, this calculation only applies to calcium. It does not work for other nutrients.