Edible Portion

The edible portion is the part of a food counted as edible after material classified as refuse has been removed. In food-composition records, this might mean an apple without its core and stem, or a chicken leg without its bone. It identifies the material to which the nutrient values apply, rather than necessarily the weight of the whole item as purchased .¹

Food-composition values are commonly expressed per 100 grams of edible portion. This is a reference weight for describing composition, not a statement that one person eats 100 grams. Records may also provide weights for measures such as a cup or an individual piece, allowing nutrient amounts to be calculated for a different quantity of the same food .^1,2

The edible fraction describes how much of the purchased food remains after excluded material is removed, usually as a proportion by weight. It is distinct from nutrient concentration: one describes the amount of food available, while the other describes the nutrients within that food. Keeping these quantities separate allows the edible weight to be matched to the appropriate food-composition values .^1,2