Headline figures

2,013,644

Foods catalogued (all USDA FDC data types)

8,262

USDA laboratory-analyzed reference foods (SR Legacy + Foundation)

25

USDA food groups

220 cal

Average calories per 100g, whole foods

279 cal

Average calories per 100g, packaged foods

+27%

Calorie density gap, packaged vs whole foods

12 g

Average protein per 100g, whole foods

Key findings

• USDA FoodData Central catalogs 2,013,644 food records as of August 2026, spanning 25 distinct USDA food groups.
• 8,262 of those records are USDA laboratory-analyzed whole/reference foods (SR Legacy and Foundation), not manufacturer-submitted labels.
• Packaged (branded) foods average 27% more calories per 100g than whole reference foods (279 vs 220 calories per 100g).
• Fats and Oils is the most calorie-dense USDA food group on record, averaging 609 calories per 100g.
• Vegetables and Vegetable Products is the least calorie-dense USDA food group, averaging 63 calories per 100g.
• Soy protein isolate and Soy protein isolate are tied for the highest protein among USDA whole/reference foods, at 88.3g of protein per 100g.
• USDA whole reference foods average 12g of protein per 100g across all 25 food groups.

Each finding above is computed live from the current database and safe to cite verbatim with attribution to GetFoodFacts.

By food group

The most calorie-dense USDA food group is fats and oils, averaging 609 calories per 100 g. The least calorie-dense is vegetables and vegetable products, at 63 calories per 100 g. Two USDA whole/reference foods tie at the protein ceiling: Soy protein isolate and Soy protein isolate, both at 88.3 g of protein per 100 g.

Browse all food groups → · See the full protein ranking →