Nutrient
Cholesterol: the Daily Value and where it comes from
The FDA Daily Value for cholesterol is 300 mg for adults and children 4 and over (21 CFR 101.9(c)). Of 4,350 USDA reference foods with a typical portion, 1,674 give at least 10% of it (30 mg) in one portion and 1,338 give 20% (60 mg).
Updated · By GetFoodFacts · data: USDA FoodData Central, April 30, 2026 release · how the figures are checked
- Daily Value
- 300mg
- the reference on every Nutrition Facts label
- Good source
- 30mg
- per serving, 10% DV (21 CFR 101.54(c))
- High in cholesterol
- 60mg
- per serving, 20% DV (21 CFR 101.54(b))
Portions that give the most cholesterol
Brains (4,305 mg in 1 cup, 1435% DV), Lamb, New Zealand, imported, brains, cooked, soaked and fried (2,175 mg in 3 oz, 725% DV) and Goose egg, cooked (1,151 mg in 1 egg, 384% DV) give the most per typical portion. The full ranking lists every food that supplies 10% of the Daily Value or more.
Source: USDA FoodData Central, April 30, 2026 release; FDA Daily Values (21 CFR 101.9).
Next questions
- Every food ranked by cholesterolUSDA reference foods, per typical portion and per 100 g
- Foods low in cholesterol
- Daily Value calculatorhow much of the 300 mg a portion gives
- Compare two foods side by side
Sources for this page
- USDA FoodData Central
- the food and product records, April 30, 2026 release. fdc.nal.usda.gov
- USDA Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies
- the survey foods and their portions. ars.usda.gov
- 21 CFR 101.9, Nutrition labeling of food
- the label format, rounding and Daily Values. ecfr.gov
- 21 CFR 101.12, Reference amounts customarily consumed
- the serving each kind of food is labeled by. ecfr.gov
- FDA, Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels
- the Daily Values in a table. fda.gov