Where can I find out how much of a nutrient is in a food?

When looking for nutrients in a food, one place to start your search is the online Nutrient Data Laboratory, by the United States Department of Agriculture, at http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/.

At this website, you can type in the item you are looking for and then select the most similar item from a database list. Then you submit the amount of the item, and nutrient information for that quantity will be posted on the webpage.

A downside to this search method is that generic or very general information is posted. For example, nutrient information can vary from brand to brand and if you cannot find a certain brand listed, you might need more specific information than the site provides.

When you need more specific information about a product, try to find the nutrient information at the product's website. This method usually results in more specific nutrient information than the USDA's Nutrient Data Laboratory.

Most of the time, using the above search methods will help you find the nutrient information you need.

Answered by Jessica Kovarik, RD, LD, Extension Associate, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri Extension