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Sausages and Luncheon Meats

Luncheon meat, pork, ham, and chicken, minced, canned, reduced sodium, added ascorbic acid, includes SPAM, 25% less sodium

Parameters

Sodium
1,040 mg
Salt, derived
2.64 %
Water
55.5 g
Brine concentration
4.55 %
Moisture-protein ratio
4.44 : 1

USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy, FDC ID 172950. All values are per 100 g of the food as described. Retrieved 2026-09-04. Source record

How the derived figures were obtained

salt %      = sodium mg / 1000 x 2.5420 / 100 x 100
            = 1,040 / 1000 x 2.5420 = 2.644 g per 100 g
brine %     = 100 x salt / (salt + water)     [FSIS-GD-2016-0002]
            = 100 x 2.644 / (2.644 + 55.5) = 4.547 %
MPR         = water % / protein % = 55.5 / 12.5 = 4.440 : 1

Full composition, per 100 g

NutrientValueUnit
Saturated fat8.87g
Iron0.64mg
Calcium0.00mg
Potassium564.0mg
Carbohydrate3.40g
Energy293.0kcal
Total fat25.1g
Water55.5g
Protein12.5g
Cholesterol76.0mg
Sodium1,040.0mg

What these figures do and do not say

The brine concentration above is computed from this food's own sodium and water using the FSIS formula, 100 x salt / (salt + water). It is a description of a finished commercial product, not a target. FSIS cites 10 percent brine after equalisation as the figure that prevents Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin production during warm drying, and 9 CFR 319.106(b)(4) requires not less than 10 percent for a dry cured ham made without nitrate or nitrite.

Water activity cannot be computed from composition. It is a measurement, and it is the measurement that decides shelf stability. The published limits are 0.85 in air and 0.91 vacuum packed, both from FSIS-GD-2014-0010.

Nearby entries

Source: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy, published 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2026-09-04.