When I look and see labels on products that reference above, I immediately think B.S. It's hidden in there somewhere naturally or artificially.
I saw an advert for Kelloggs cereal in an old newspaper that was using its calories being high as a selling point! (toast ONLY has x calories but Kelloggs cornflakes has more). It referred to 3500 being what we needed each day. 1000-1500 more than current guidelines. But people weren't all way fatter back then. We walked more, did more, used more energy. It made me think maybe this is why we struggle to eat less. We're not really meant to. We're meant to DO more.
Was it a war-time advert ??? - don't forget that there was severe rationing then and therefore people couldn't be fatter then !!!
That really has nothing to do with my point. The recommended calorie intake was higher than it is today.