### Clue: California's gold that is reference unit for consumers (7)
### Answer: CALORIE 
 ### Explanation: Definition: reference unit for consumers
  CAL(one of the abbrevs. for California) OR(the gold metal or colour) IE(that is, in Latin, $$i$$d $$e$$st)
Defn:  The standard,reference unit of the fuel or energy value of food taken in by consumers