Pork Products

Pork, cured, ham with natural juices, spiral slice, boneless, separable lean and fat, unheated

Parameters

Sodium: 881 mg
Salt, derived: 2.24 %
Water: 70.6 g
Brine concentration: 3.07 %
Moisture-protein ratio: 3.78 : 1

USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy, FDC ID 168341. 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
            = 881 / 1000 x 2.5420 = 2.239 g per 100 g
brine %     = 100 x salt / (salt + water)     [FSIS-GD-2016-0002]
            = 100 x 2.239 / (2.239 + 70.6) = 3.075 %
MPR         = water % / protein % = 70.6 / 18.7 = 3.775 : 1

Full composition, per 100 g

Nutrient	Value	Unit
Water	70.6	g
Calcium	4.00	mg
Potassium	310.0	mg
Total fat	5.75	g
Protein	18.7	g
Iron	0.75	mg
Sodium	881.0	mg
Cholesterol	57.0	mg
Energy	129.0	kcal
Saturated fat	1.83	g
Carbohydrate	1.18	g

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.