Table I.—Average composition of common American food products.
| Food Materials (As Purchased) | Refuse % | Water % |
Protein % | Fat % |
Carbohydrates % |
Ash % | Fuel Value per lb. Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Food. | |||||||
| Beef, fresh: | |||||||
| Chuck ribs | 16.3 | 52.6 | 15.5 | 15.0 | — | 0.8 | 910 |
| Flank | 10.2 | 54.0 | 17.0 | 19.0 | — | .7 | 1,105 |
| Loin | 13.3 | 52.5 | 16.1 | 17.5 | — | .9 | 1,025 |
| Porterhouse steak | 12.7 | 52.4 | 19.1 | 17.9 | — | .8 | 1,100 |
| Sirloin steak | 12.8 | 54.0 | 16.5 | 16.1 | — | .9 | 975 |
| Neck | 27.6 | 45.9 | 14.5 | 11.9 | — | .7 | 1,165 |
| Ribs | 20.8 | 43.8 | 13.9 | 21.2 | — | .7 | 1,135 |
| Rib rolls | — | 63.9 | 19.8 | 16.7 | — | .9 | 1,055 |
| Round | 7.2 | 60.7 | 19.0 | 12.8 | — | 1.0 | 890 |
| Rump | 20.7 | 45.0 | 13.8 | 20.2 | — | .7 | 1,090 |
| Shank, fore | 36.9 | 42.9 | 12.8 | 7.3 | — | .6 | 545 |
| Shoulder and clod | 16.4 | 56.8 | 16.4 | 9.8 | — | .9 | 715 |
| Fore quarter | 18.7 | 49.1 | 14.5 | 17.5 | — | .7 | 995 |
| Hind quarter | 15.7 | 50.4 | 15.4 | 18.3 | — | .7 | 1,045 |
| Beef, corned, canned, pickled, and dried: | |||||||
| Corned beef | 8.4 | 49.2 | 14.3 | 23.8 | — | 4.6 | 1,245 |
| Tongue, pickled | 6.0 | 58.9 | 11.9 | 19.2 | — | 4.3 | 1,010 |
| Dried, salted, and smoked | 4.7 | 53.7 | 26.4 | 6.9 | — | 8.9 | 790 |
| Canned boiled beef | — | 51.8 | 25.5 | 22.5 | — | 1.3 | 1,410 |
| Canned corned beef | — | 51.8 | 26.3 | 18.7 | — | 4.0 | 1,270 |
| Veal: | |||||||
| Breast | 21.3 | 52.0 | 15.4 | 11.0 | — | .8 | 745 |
| Leg | 14.2 | 60.1 | 15.5 | 7.9 | — | .9 | 625 |
| Leg cutlets | 3.4 | 68.3 | 20.1 | 7.5 | — | 1.0 | 695 |
| Fore quarter | 24.5 | 54.2 | 15.1 | 6.0 | — | .7 | 535 |
| Hind quarter | 20.7 | 56.2 | 16.2 | 6.6 | — | .8 | 580 |
| Mutton: | |||||||
| Flank | 9.9 | 39.0 | 13.8 | 36.9 | — | .6 | 1,770 |
| Leg, hind | 18.4 | 51.2 | 15.1 | 14.7 | — | .8 | 890 |
| Loin chops | 16.0 | 42.0 | 13.5 | 28.3 | — | .7 | 1,415 |
| Fore quarter | 21.2 | 41.6 | 12.3 | 24.5 | — | .7 | 1,235 |
| Hind quarter, without tallow | 17.2 | 45.4 | 13.8 | 23.2 | — | .7 | 1,210 |
| Lamb: | |||||||
| Breast | 19.1 | 45.5 | 15.4 | 19.1 | — | .8 | 1,075 |
| Leg, hind | 17.4 | 52.9 | 15.9 | 13.6 | — | .9 | 860 |
| Pork, fresh: | |||||||
| Ham | 10.7 | 48.0 | 13.5 | 25.9 | — | .8 | 1,320 |
| Loin chops | 19.7 | 41.8 | 13.4 | 24.2 | — | .8 | 1,245 |
| Shoulder | 12.4 | 44.9 | 12.0 | 29.8 | — | .7 | 1,450 |
| Tenderloin | — | 66.5 | 18.9 | 13.0 | — | 1.0 | 895 |
| Pork, salted, cured, and pickled: | |||||||
| Ham, smoked | 13.6 | 34.8 | 14.2 | 33.4 | — | 4.2 | 1,635 |
| Shoulder, smoked | 18.2 | 36.8 | 13.0 | 26.6 | — | 5.5 | 1,335 |
| Salt pork | — | 7.9 | 1.9 | 86.2 | — | 3.9 | 3,555 |
| Bacon, smoked | 7.7 | 17.4 | 9.1 | 62.2 | — | 4.1 | 2,715 |
| Sausage: | |||||||
| Bologna | 3.3 | 55.2 | 18.2 | 19.7 | — | 3.8 | 1,155 |
| Pork | — | 39.8 | 13.0 | 44.2 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 2,075 |
| Frankfort | — | 57.2 | 19.6 | 18.6 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 1,155 |
| Soups: | |||||||
| Celery, cream of | — | 88.6 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 235 |
| Beef | — | 92.9 | 4.4 | .4 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 120 |
| Meat stew | — | 84.5 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 5.5 | 1.1 | 365 |
| Tomato | — | 90.0 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 5.6 | 1.5 | 185 |
| Poultry: | |||||||
| Chicken, broilers | 41.6 | 43.7 | 12.8 | 1.4 | — | .7 | 305 |
| Fowls | 25.9 | 47.1 | 13.7 | 12.3 | — | .7 | 765 |
| Goose | 17.6 | 38.5 | 13.4 | 29.8 | — | .7 | 1,475 |
| Turkey | 22.7 | 42.4 | 16.1 | 18.4 | — | .8 | 1,060 |
| Fish: | |||||||
| Cod, dressed | 29.9 | 58.5 | 11.1 | .2 | — | .8 | 220 |
| Halibut, steaks or sections | 17.7 | 61.9 | 15.3 | 4.4 | — | .9 | 475 |
| Mackerel, whole | 44.7 | 40.4 | 10.2 | 4.2 | — | .7 | 370 |
| Perch, yellow, dressed | 35.1 | 50.7 | 12.8 | .7 | — | .9 | 275 |
| Shad, whole | 50.1 | 35.2 | 9.4 | 4.8 | — | .7 | 880 |
| Shad, roe | — | 71.2 | 20.9 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 600 |
| Fish, preserved: | |||||||
| Cod, salt | 24.9 | 40.2 | 16.0 | .4 | — | 18.5 | 325 |
| Herring, smoked | 44.4 | 19.2 | 20.5 | 8.8 | — | 7.4 | 755 |
| Fish, canned: | |||||||
| Salmon | — | 68.5 | 21.8 | 12.1 | — | 2.6 | 915 |
| Sardines | [1]5.0 | 53.6 | 23.7 | 12.1 | — | 5.3 | 950 |
| Shellfish: | |||||||
| Oysters, “solids” | — | 88.3 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 225 |
| Clams | — | 80.8 | 10.6 | 1.1 | 5.2 | 2.3 | 340 |
| Crabs | 52.4 | 36.7 | 7.9 | .9 | .6 | 1.5 | 200 |
| Lobsters | 61.7 | 30.7 | 5.9 | .7 | .2 | .8 | 145 |
| Eggs: | |||||||
| Hens’ eggs | [2]11.2 | 65.5 | 13.1 | 9.3 | — | 0.9 | 685 |
| Dairy products, etc.: | |||||||
| Butter | — | 11.0 | 1.0 | 85.0 | — | 3.0 | 3,410 |
| Whole milk | — | 87.0 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 5.0 | .7 | 310 |
| Skim milk | — | 90.5 | 3.4 | .3 | 5.1 | .7 | 165 |
| Buttermilk | — | 91.0 | 3.0 | .5 | 4.8 | .7 | 160 |
| Condensed milk | — | 26.9 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 54.1 | 1.9 | 1,480 |
| Cream | — | 74.0 | 2.5 | 18.5 | 4.5 | .5 | 865 |
| Cheese, Cheddar | — | 27.4 | 27.7 | 36.8 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 2,075 |
| Cheese, full cream | — | 34.2 | 25.9 | 33.7 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 1,885 |
| Vegetable Food. | |||||||
| Flour, meal, etc.: | |||||||
| Entire-wheat flour | — | 11.4 | 13.8 | 1.9 | 71.9 | 1.0 | 1,650 |
| Graham flour | — | 11.3 | 13.3 | 2.2 | 71.4 | 1.8 | 1,645 |
| Wheat flour, patent roller process | |||||||
| High-grade and medium | — | 12.0 | 11.4 | 1.0 | 75.1 | .5 | 1,635 |
| Low grade | — | 12.0 | 14.0 | 1.9 | 71.2 | .9 | 1,640 |
| Macaroni, vermicelli, etc.: | — | 10.3 | 13.4 | .9 | 74.1 | 1.3 | 1,645 |
| Wheat breakfast food | — | 9.6 | 12.1 | 1.8 | 75.2 | 1.3 | 1,680 |
| Buckwheat flour | — | 13.6 | 6.4 | 1.2 | 77.9 | .9 | 1,605 |
| Rye flour | — | 12.9 | 6.8 | .9 | 78.7 | .7 | 1,620 |
| Corn meal | — | 12.5 | 9.2 | 1.9 | 75.4 | 1.0 | 1,685 |
| Oat breakfast food | — | 7.7 | 16.7 | 7.3 | 66.2 | 2.1 | 1,800 |
| Rice | — | 12.3 | 8.0 | .3 | 79.0 | .4 | 1,620 |
| Tapioca | — | 11.4 | .4 | .1 | 88.0 | .1 | 1,650 |
| Starch | — | — | — | — | 90.0 | — | 1,675 |
| Bread, pastry, etc.: | |||||||
| White bread | — | 35.3 | 9.2 | 1.3 | 53.1 | 1.1 | 1,200 |
| Brown bread | — | 43.6 | 5.4 | 1.8 | 47.1 | 2.1 | 1,040 |
| Graham bread | — | 35.7 | 8.9 | 1.8 | 52.1 | 1.5 | 1,195 |
| Whole-wheat bread | — | 38.4 | 9.7 | .9 | 49.7 | 1.3 | 1,130 |
| Rye bread | — | 35.7 | 9.0 | .6 | 53.2 | 1.5 | 1,170 |
| Cake | — | 19.9 | 6.3 | 9.0 | 63.3 | 1.5 | 1,630 |
| Cream crackers | — | 6.8 | 9.7 | 12.1 | 69.7 | 1.7 | 1,925 |
| Oyster crackers | — | 4.8 | 11.3 | 10.5 | 70.5 | 2.9 | 1,910 |
| Soda crackers | — | 5.9 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 73.1 | 2.1 | 1,875 |
| Sugars, etc.: | |||||||
| Molasses | — | — | — | — | 70.0 | — | 1,225 |
| Candy[3] | — | — | — | — | 96.0 | — | 1,680 |
| Honey | — | — | — | — | 81.0 | — | 1,420 |
| Sugar, granulated | — | — | — | — | 100.0 | — | 1,750 |
| Maple sirup | — | — | — | — | 71.4 | — | 1,250 |
| Vegetable:[4] | |||||||
| Beans, dried | — | 12.6 | 22.5 | 1.8 | 59.6 | 3.5 | 1,520 |
| Beans, Lima, shelled | — | 68.5 | 7.1 | .7 | 22.0 | 1.7 | 540 |
| Beans, string | 7.0 | 83.0 | 2.1 | .3 | 6.9 | .7 | 170 |
| Beets | 20.0 | 70.0 | 1.3 | .1 | 7.7 | .9 | 160 |
| Cabbage | 15.0 | 77.7 | 1.4 | .2 | 4.8 | .9 | 115 |
| Celery | 20.0 | 75.6 | .9 | .1 | 2.6 | .8 | 65 |
| Corn, green (sweet) edible portion | — | 75.4 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 19.7 | .7 | 440 |
| Cucumbers | 15.0 | 81.1 | .7 | .2 | 2.6 | .4 | 65 |
| Lettuce | 15.0 | 80.5 | 1.0 | .2 | 2.5 | .8 | 65 |
| Mushrooms | — | 88.1 | 3.5 | .4 | 6.8 | 1.2 | 185 |
| Onions | 10.0 | 79.8 | 1.4 | .3 | 8.9 | .5 | 190 |
| Parsnips | 20.0 | 66.4 | 1.3 | .4 | 10.8 | 1.1 | 230 |
| Peas (Pisum sativum), dried | — | 9.5 | 24.6 | 1.0 | 62.0 | 2.9 | 1,565 |
| Peas (Pisum sativum), shelled | — | 74.6 | 7.0 | .5 | 16.9 | 1.0 | 440 |
| Cowpeas, dried | — | 13.0 | 21.4 | 1.4 | 60.8 | 3.4 | 1,505 |
| Potatoes | 20.0 | 62.6 | 1.8 | .1 | 14.7 | .8 | 295 |
| Rhubarb | 40.0 | 56.6 | .4 | .4 | 2.2 | .4 | 60 |
| Sweet potatoes | 20.0 | 55.2 | 1.4 | .6 | 21.9 | .9 | 440 |
| Spinach | — | 92.3 | 2.1 | .3 | 3.2 | 2.1 | 95 |
| Squash | 50.0 | 44.2 | .7 | .2 | 4.5 | .4 | 100 |
| Tomatoes | — | 94.3 | .9 | .4 | 3.9 | .5 | 100 |
| Turnips | 30.0 | 62.7 | .9 | .1 | 5.7 | .6 | 120 |
| Vegetables, canned: | |||||||
| Baked beans | — | 68.9 | 6.9 | 2.5 | 19.6 | 2.1 | 555 |
| Peas (Pisum sativum), green | — | 85.3 | 3.6 | .2 | 9.8 | 1.1 | 235 |
| Corn, green | — | 76.1 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 19.0 | .9 | 430 |
| Succotash | — | 75.9 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 18.6 | .9 | 425 |
| Tomatoes | — | 94.0 | 1.2 | .2 | 4.0 | .6 | 95 |
| Fruits, berries, etc., fresh:[5] | |||||||
| Apples | 25.0 | 63.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 10.8 | 0.3 | 190 |
| Bananas | 35.0 | 48.9 | .8 | .4 | 14.3 | .6 | 260 |
| Grapes | 25.0 | 58.0 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 14.4 | .4 | 295 |
| Lemons | 30.0 | 62.5 | .7 | .5 | 5.9 | .4 | 125 |
| Muskmelons | 50.0 | 44.8 | .3 | — | 4.6 | .3 | 80 |
| Oranges | 27.0 | 63.4 | .6 | .1 | 8.5 | .4 | 150 |
| Pears | 10.0 | 76.0 | .5 | .4 | 12.7 | .4 | 230 |
| Persimmons, edible portion | — | 66.1 | .8 | .7 | 31.5 | .9 | 550 |
| Raspberries | — | 85.8 | 1.0 | — | 12.6 | .6 | 220 |
| Strawberries | 5.0 | 85.9 | .9 | .6 | 7.0 | .6 | 150 |
| Watermelons | 59.4 | 37.5 | .2 | .1 | 2.7 | .1 | 50 |
| Fruits, dried: | |||||||
| Apples | — | 28.1 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 66.1 | 2.0 | 1,185 |
| Apricots | — | 29.4 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 62.5 | 2.4 | 1,125 |
| Dates | 10.0 | 13.8 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 70.6 | 1.2 | 1,275 |
| Figs | — | 18.8 | 4.3 | .3 | 74.2 | 2.4 | 1,280 |
| Raisins | 10.0 | 13.1 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 68.5 | 3.1 | 1,265 |
| Nuts: | |||||||
| Almonds | 45.0 | 2.7 | 11.5 | 30.2 | 9.5 | 1.1 | 1,515 |
| Brazil nuts | 49.6 | 2.6 | 8.6 | 33.7 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 1,485 |
| Butternuts | 86.4 | .6 | 3.8 | 8.3 | .5 | .4 | 385 |
| Chestnuts, fresh | 16.0 | 37.8 | 5.2 | 4.5 | 35.4 | 1.1 | 915 |
| Chestnuts, dried | 24.0 | 4.5 | 8.1 | 5.3 | 56.4 | 1.7 | 1,385 |
| Cocoanuts | [6]148.8 | 7.2 | 2.9 | 25.9 | 14.3 | .9 | 1,295 |
| Cocoanuts, prepared | — | 3.5 | 6.3 | 57.4 | 31.5 | 1.3 | 2,865 |
| Filberts | 52.1 | 1.8 | 7.5 | 31.3 | 6.2 | 1.1 | 1,430 |
| Hickory nuts | 62.2 | 1.4 | 5.8 | 25.5 | 4.3 | .8 | 1,145 |
| Pecans, polished | 53.2 | 1.4 | 5.2 | 33.3 | 6.2 | .7 | 1,465 |
| Peanuts | 24.5 | 6.9 | 19.5 | 29.1 | 18.5 | 1.5 | 1,775 |
| Pinon (Pinus edulis) | 40.6 | 2.0 | 8.7 | 36.8 | 10.2 | 1.7 | 1,730 |
| Walnuts, black | 74.1 | .6 | 7.2 | 14.6 | 3.0 | .5 | 730 |
| Walnuts, English | 58.1 | 1.0 | 6.9 | 26.6 | 6.8 | .6 | 1,250 |
| Miscellaneous: | |||||||
| Chocolate | — | 5.9 | 12.9 | 48.7 | 30.3 | 2.2 | 2,625 |
| Cocoa, powdered | — | 4.6 | 21.6 | 28.9 | 37.7 | 7.2 | 2,160 |
| Cereal coffee infusion (1 part boiled in 20 parts water)[7] | — | 98.2 | .2 | — | 1.4 | .2 | 30 |