Nutrient explorer
Sodium
Sodium can come from naturally occurring food sodium as well as salt and processed ingredients. Contribution views show what drives the total.
Daily Value2,300mg
What sodium means in a meal
Sodium varies dramatically by brand and preparation. Packaged foods, sauces, breads, cheeses and cured foods can contribute substantially.
On the labelFor label comparison, FDA uses 2,300 mg as the Daily Value. Product-specific records matter because sodium can vary greatly between similar foods.
Real serving examples
See the number in actual foods
Values below are calculated from the matched USDA record and the serving shown. Brand, preparation and food match can change the result.
Cheddar cheese
1 oz192 mg8% DV
Matched to CHEDDAR CHEESE
Whole-wheat bread
1 slice395 mg17% DV
Matched to WHOLE WHEAT BREAD
Cottage cheese
1 cup209 mg9% DV
Matched to Cheese, cottage, lowfat, with fruit
Tuna
3 oz186 mg8% DV
Matched to Fish, tuna, light, canned in water, drained solids
Milk
1 cup40 mg2% DV
Matched to 2% MILK
Foods that commonly contribute sodium
Salt and saucesCheeseBreadPackaged foodsCured foods
These are food categories, not fixed nutrient values. The amount depends on the exact food record, serving, preparation and product.
How to read the percentage
Daily Values are general label reference amounts, not personalized nutrition targets.
Trace sodium through a meal
Analyze a recipe, then open the nutrient contribution explorer to see which ingredient supplies the total and how much each food contributes.
Analyze food →