U. S. F.D.A. Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition, June 2000
Approximate pH of Foods & Food Products

The pH and/or acidity of a food are generally used to determine processing requirements & the applicability of GMP regulations for regulatory purposes. Methods & conditions for determining the pH & acidity of foods are also summarized in 21 CFR 114.90. Methodology for pH is generally available from pH meter & electrode manufacturers.

To assist readers in determining the product pH levels, the approximate ranges of pH values are complied below. Considerable variation exists between varieties, condition of growing & processing methods, etc. Data is presented for the edible portion of foods in their normal & natural state, unless otherwise designated. We solicit your input to this matter. This list will be updated when new information is available. Please contact Lin/Spinak/Dignan at 202-205-4842.

Item Approximate pH

Anchovies 6.50

Anchovies, stuffed w/cappers, in olive oil 5.58

Apple, eating 3.30 - 4.00

Apples
Delicious 3.90

Golden Delicious 3.60

Jonathan 3.33

McIntosh 3.34

Winesap 3.47

Juice 3.40 - 4.00

Sauce 3.30 - 3.60

Apple, baked with sugar 3.20 - 3.55

Apple Juice, canned 3.35 - 3.62

Apple Sauce, canned 3.09 - 3.40

Apple Sauce, chopped 3.24 - 3.35

Apple, Current Jelly com. 3.00

Apricots 3.30 - 4.80

Canned 3.40 - 3.70

Unsweetened, canned 3.78

Pureed, 3.42 - 3.83

Strained 3.72 - 3.95

Dried, stewed 3.30 - 3.51

Nectar 3.78

Arrowroot Crackers 6.63 - 6.80

Arrowroot Cruel 6.37 - 6.87

Artichokes 5.60

Artichokes, Canned, acidified 4.30 - 4.60

Artichokes, French, cooked 5.60 - 6.00

Artichokes, Jerusalem, cooked 5.93 - 6.00

Asparagus 6.00 - 6.70

Buds 6.70

Stalks 6.10

Asparagus, cooked 6.03 - 6.16

Asparagus, canned 5.00 - 5.80

Asparagus, frozen, cooked 6.35 - 6.48

Asparagus, green, canned 5.20 - 5.32

Asparagus, strained 4.80 - 5.09

Avocados 6.27 - 6.58

Baby Soup, unstrained 5.95 - 6.05

Bacon, broiled 5.20 - 6.12

Bacon, Canadian, broiled 5.43 - 6.57

Bamboo Shoots 6.20 -

Bamboo Shoots, preserved 3.50 - 4.60

Bananas 4.50 - 5.20

Bananas, red 4.58 - 4.75

Banana, yellow 5.00 - 5.29

Barley, cooked 5.19 - 5.32

Bass, sea, broiled 6.58 - 6.78

Bass, striped, broiled 6.50 - 6.70

Beans 5.60 - 6.50

Lima 6.50

String 5.60

Kidney 5.40 - 6.00

Boston style 5.05 - 5.42

Black, cooked 5.78 - 6.02

Soy 6.00 - 6.60

Wax, cooked 5.30 - 5.70

Beans, pork & tomato sauce, canned 5.10 - 5.80

Beans, vegetarian, tomato sauce, canned 5.32

Beets 5.30 - 6.60

Beets, cooked 5.23 - 6.50

Beets, canned, acidified 4.30 - 4.60

Beets, canned 4.90 - 5.80

Beets, chopped 5.32 - 5.56

Beets, strained 5.32 - 5.56

Blackberries, Washington 3.85 - 4.50

Blueberries, Maine 3.12 - 3.33

Blueberries, frozen 3.11 - 3.22

Bluefish, Boston, filet, broiled 6.09 - 6.50

Bran Flakes 5.45 - 5.67

All Bran 5.59 - 6.19

Bread, white 5.00 - 6.20

Bread, Boston, brown 6.53

Bread, Cracked wheat 5.43 - 5.50

Bread, pumpernickel 5.40 -

Bread, rye 5.20 - 5.90

Bread, whole wheat 5.47 - 5.85

Breadfruit, cooked 5.33

Broccoli, cooked 6.30 - 6.52

Broccoli, frozen, cooked 6.30 - 6.85

Broccoli, canned 5.20 - 6.00

Brussels sprouts 6.00 - 6.30

Brussels Sprouts, cooked 6.00 - 6.15

Buttermilk 4.41 - 4.83

Cabbage 5.20 - 6.80

Green 5.50 - 6.75

White 6.20

Red 5.60 - 6.00

Savoy 6.30

Cactus 4.70

Cantaloupe 6.13 - 6.58

Carrots, Juice 6.40

Carrots 5.88 - 6.10

Carrots, cooked 5.58 - 6.03

Carrots, canned 5.18 - 5.22

Carrots, chopped 5.30 - 5.56

Carrots, pureed 4.55 - 5.80

Carrots, strained 5.10 - 5.10

Cauliflower 5.60

Cauliflower, cooked 6.45 - 6.80

Caviar, American 5.70 - 6.00

Celery 5.70 - 6.00

Celery, cooked 5.37 - 5.92

Celery Knob, cooked 5.71 - 5.85

Cereal, strained 6.44 - 6.45

Chayote, cooked 6.00 - 6.30

Cheese, American, mild 4.98

Cheese, Camembert 7.44

Cheese, Cheddar 5.90

Cheese, Cottage 4.75 - 5.02

Cheese, Cream, Philadelphia 4.10 - 4.79

Cheese, Edem 5.40

Cheese, Old English 6.15

Cheese, Roquefort 5.10 - 5.98

Cheese, Parmesan 5.20 - 5.30

Cheese, Snippy 5.18 - 5.2l

Cheese, Stilton 5.70

Cheese, Swiss Gruyere 5.68 - 6.62

Cherries, California 4.01 - 4.54

Cherries, frozen 3.32 - 3.37

Cherries, black, canned 3.82 - 3.93

Cherries, Maraschino 3.47 - 3.52

Cherries, red, Water pack 3.25 - 3.82

Cherries, Royal Ann 3.80 - 3.83

Chicory 5.90 - 6.05

Chili Sauce, acidified 2.77 - 3.70

Chives 5.20 - 6.31

Clams 6.00 - 7.10

Coconut, fresh 5.52 - 6.18

Codfish, boiled 5.30 - 6.10

Conch 7.52 - 8.40

Coconut preserves 3.80 - 6.13

Corn 5.90 - 7.30

Corn, Golden Bantam, cooked on cob 6.22 - 7.04

Corn, frozen, cooked 7.33 - 7.68

Corn, canned 5.90 - 6.50

Corn Flakes 4.90 - 5.38

Crabapple Jelly, corn 2.93 - 3.02

Crabmeat, cooked 6.62 - 6.98

Cranberry Juice, canned 2.30 - 2.52

Cranberry Sauce, corn 2.40

Cream, 20 per cent 6.50 - 6.68

Cream, 40 per cent 6.44 - 6.80

Cream of Coconut, canned 5.51 - 5.87

Cream of Wheat, cooked 6.06 - 6.16

Cucumbers 5.12 - 5.78

Cucumbers, Dill pickles 3.20 - 3.70

Cucumbers, pickled 4.20 - 4.60

Curry Paste 4.60 - 4.80

Dates, canned 6.20 - 6.40

Dates, Dromedary 4.14 - 4.88

Eggs new-laid, whole 6.58

White 7.96

Yolk 6.10

Eggplant 4.75 - 5.50

Escarolle 5.70 - 6.00

Fennel (Anise) 5.48 - 5.88

Fennel, cooked 5.80 - 6.02

Figs, Calamyrna 5.05 - 5.98

Figs, canned 4.92 - 5.00

Flounder, boiled 6.10 - 6.90

Flounder, fi1et, broiled 6.39 - 6.89

Fruit cocktail 3.60 - 4.00

Gelatin, plain jell 6.08

Gelatin Dessert 2.60

Lime 2,80

Gooseberries 2.80 - 3.10

Graham Crackers 7.10 - 7.92

Grapes, Concord 2.80 - 3.00

Grapes, Lady Finger 3.51 - 3.58

Grapes, Malaga 3.71 - 3.78

Grapes, Niagara 2.80 - 3.27

Grapes, Ribier 3.70 - 3.80

Grapes, Seedless 2.90 - 3.82

Grapes, Tokyo 3.50 - 3.84

Grapes, canned 3.50 - 4.50

Grapefruit 3.00 - 3.75

Grapefruit, canned 3.08 - 3.32

Grapefruit Juice, canned 2.90 - 3.25

Greens, Mixed, chopped 5.05 - 5.22

Greens, Mixed, strained 5.22 - 5.30

Guava Jelly 3.73

Guava, canned 3.70 - 4.00

Haddock, Filet, broiled 6.17 - 6.82

Hominy, cooked 6.00 - 7.50

Honey 3.70 - 4.20

Horseradish, freshly ground 5.35

Horseradish 3.56

Huckleberries, cooked with sugar 3.38 - 3.43

Jam, fruit 3.50 - 4.50

Jellies, fruit 3.00 - 3.50

Junket type Dessert:


Raspberry 6.27

Vanilla 6.49

Kale, cooked 6.36 - 6.80

Ketchup 3.89 - 3.92

Kippered, Herring, Marshall 5.75 - 6.20

Herring, Pickled 4.50 - 5.00

Kohlrabi, cooked 5.72 - 5.82

Kumquat, Florida 3.64 - 4.25

Leeks 5.52 - 6.17

Leeks, cooked 5.49 - 6.10

Lemon Juice 2.00 - 2.60

Lentils, cooked 6.30 - 6.83

Lettuce 5.80 - 6.15

Lettuce, Boston 5.89 - 6.05

Lettuce, Iceberg 5.70 - 6.13

Lime Juice 2.00 - 2.35

Lobster, cooked 7.10 - 7.43

Loganberries 2.70 - 3.50

Macaroni, cooked 5.10 - 6.41

Mackerel, King, boiled 6.26 - 6.50

Mackerel, Spanish, broiled 6.07 - 6.36

Mackerel, canned 5.90 - 6.20

Mangoes, Florida 3.40 - 4.63

Maple syrup 5.15

Matzos 5.70

Melba Toast 5.08 - 5.30

Melon, Casaba 5.78 - 6.00

Melons, Honey dew 6.00 - 6.67

Melons, Persian 5.90 - 6.38

Milk, cow 6.40 - 6.80

Milk, Acidophilus 4.09 - 4.25

Milk, condensed 6.33

Milk, evaporated 5.90 - 6.30

Milk, peptonized 7.10

Milk, Goat's 6.48

Mint Jelly 3.01

Molasses 4.90 - 5.40

Mushrooms 6.00 - 6.70

Mushrooms, cooked 6.15 - 6.22

Mushroom Soup, Cream of, canned 5.95 - 6.40

Mussels 6.20 - 6.85

Mustard 3.55

Nectarines 3.92 - 4.18

Noodles, boiled 6.08 - 6.50

Oatmeal, cooked 6.20 - 6.60

Okra, cooked 5.50 - 6.60

Olives, green, fermented 3.60 - 4.60

Olives, ripe 6.00 - 7.30

Onions, white 5.40 - 5.80

Onions, red 5.30 - 5.80

Onions, red 5.32 - 5.52

Onion white 5.37 - 5.85

Onions, yellow 5.32 - 5.60

Onions, pickled 3.70 - 4.60

Onions, yellow 5.40 - 5.60

Oranges, Florida "color added" 3.60 - 3.90

Oranges, Florida 3.69 - 4.34

Orange Juice, California 3.30 - 4.19

Orange, Juice Florida 3.30 - 4.15

Orange, Marmalade 3.00 - 3.33

Oyster plant, cooked 5.72 - 5.80

Milk, Sour, fine curd 5.50 - 5.65

Milk sour, Precipitated curd 4.70 - 5.10

Oysters 5.68 - 6.17

Papaya 5.20 - 5.72

Papaya Marmalade 3.53 - 4.00

Parsley 5.70 - 6.03

Parsnip 5.30 - 5.70

Parsnips, cooked 5.45 - 5.65

Pate 5.90

Peaches 3.30 - 4.05

Peaches, cooked with sugar 3.55 - 3.72

Peaches, frozen 3.28 - 3.35

Peaches, canned 3.70 - 4.20

Peanut Butter 6.28

Pears, Bartlett 3.50 - 4.60

Pears, Sickle cooked w/sugar 4.04 - 4.21

Pears, canned 4.00 - 4.07

Pear Nectar 4.03

Pea Soup, Cream of, Canned 5.70

Peas, cooked 6.22 - 6.88

Peas, frozen, cooked 6.40 - 6.70

Peas, canned 5.70 - 6.00

Peas, pureed 4.90 - 5.85

Peas, strained 5.91 - 6.12

Peas, dried (split green), cooked 6.45 - 6.80

Peas, dried (split yellow), cooked 6.43 - 6.62

Peas, Chick, Garbanzo 6.48 - 6.80

Peppers 4.65 - 5.45

Peppers, green 5.20 - 5.93

Pickles, fresh pack 5.10 - 5.40

Pimiento 4.40 - 4.90

Persimmons 4.42 - 4.70

Pimento, canned, acidified 4.40 - 4.60

Pineapple 3.20 - 4.00

Pineapple, canned 3.35 - 4.10

Pineapple Juice, canned 3.30 - 3.60

Plums, Blue 2.80 - 3.40

Plums, Damson 2.90 - 3.10

Plums, Green Gage 3.60 - 4.30

Plums, Green Gage, canned 3.22 - 3.32

Plums, Red 3.60 - 4.30

Plums, Yellow 3.90 - 4.45

Plums, Frozen 3.22 - 3.42

Plums, spiced 3.64 -

Plum Nectar 3.45 -

Pollack, filet, broiled 6.72 - 6.82

Pomegranate 2.93 - 3.10

Porgy, broiled 6.40 - 6.49

Potatoes 5.40 - 5.90

Tubers 5.70 -

Sweet 5.30 - 5.60

Mashed 5.10

Prunes, dried, stewed 3.63 - 3.92

Prunes, chopped 3.40 - 3.75

Prune, pureed 3.60 - 4.30

Prune, strained 3.58 - 3.83

Prune Juice 3.95 - 3.97

Puffed Rice 6.27 - 6.40

Puffed Wheat 5.26 - 5.77

Pumpkin 4.90 - 5.50

Quince, fresh, stewed 3.12 - 3.40

Quince Jelly 3.70

Radishes, red 5.85 - 6.05

Radishes, white 5.52 - 5.69

Raisins, seedless 3.80 - 4.10

Raspberries 3.22 - 3.95

Raspberries, NJ 3.50 - 3.82

Raspberries, frozen 3.18 - 3.26

Raspberry Jam 2.87 - 3.17

Red Pepper Relish 3.10 - 3.62

Rhubarb, California, stewed 3.20 - 3.34

Rhubarb 3.10 - 3.40

Canned 3.40

Rice, brown, cooked 6.25 - 6.83

Rice, White, cooked 6.00 - 6.68

Rice, wild, cooked 6.08 - 6.47

Rice, Krispies 5.40 - 5.73

Rice (all cooked)
Brown 6.20 - 6.70

White 6.00 - 6.70

Wild 6.00 - 6.40

Sardines 5.70 - 6.60

Sauce, Enchilada 5.50 -

Sauerkraut 3.30 - 3.60

Shrimp 6.80 - 7.00

Sorrel 3.70

Spinach 5.50 - 6.80

Frozen 6.30 - 6.50

Squash (all cooked)
Yellow 5.80 - 6.00

White 5.50 - 5.70

Hubbard 6.00 - 6.20

Rolls, white 5.46 - 5.52

Romaine 5.78 - 6.06

Salmon, fresh, boiled 5.85 - 6.50

Salmon, fresh, broiled 5.36 - 6.40

Salmon, Red Alaska, canned 6.07 - 6.16

Sardine, Portuguese, in olive oil 5.42 - 5.93

Sauce, Fish 4.93 - 5.02

Sauce, Shrimp 7.01 - 7.27

Sauerkraut, cooked 3.16 - 3.50

Sausage, pan-broi1ed 6.50 - 6.74

Shad Roe, sauted 5.70 - 5.90

Scotch Broth. 5.92

Shallots, cooked 5.30 - 5.70

Sherbet, raspberry 3.69

Shredded Ralston 5.32 - 5.60

Shredded Wheat 6.05 - 6.49

Shrimp, boiled 7.19 - 7.79

Shrimp Paste 6.17 - 6.77

Smelts, Sauted 6.67 - 6.90

Soda Crackers 5.65 - 7.32

Sorrel 2.98 - 3.27

Soy Sauce 4.40 - 5.40

Spaghetti, cooked 5.97 - 6.40

Spinach, cooked 6.60 - 7.18

Spinach, frozen, cooked 6.30 - 6.52

Spinach, chopped 5.38 - 5.52

Spinach, pureed 5.50 - 6.22

Spinach, strained 5.63 - 5.79

Squash, acorn, cooked 5.18 - 6.49

Squash, Kubbard, cooked 6.00 - 6.20

Squash, white, cooked 5.52 - 5.80

Squash, yellow, Summer, cooked 5.79 - 6.00

Strawberries 3.00 - 3.90

Strawberries, California 3.32 - 3.50

Strawberries, frozen 3.21 - 3.32

Strawberry Jam 3.00 - 3.40

Sweetbreads, broiled 6.60 - 7.10

Swiss Chard, cooked 6.17 - 6.78

Tangerine 3.32 - 4.48

Taro syrup 4.50

Tomatoes, whole 4.30 - 4.90

Paste 3.50 - 4.70

Canned 3.50 - 4.70

Juice 4.10 - 4.60

Tomatoes, Wine ripened 4.42 - 4.65

Tomatoes, strained 4.32 - 4.58

Tomato Puree 4.30 - 4.47

Tomato Soup, Cream of, canned 4.62

Trout, Sea, sauted 6.20 - 6.33

Tuna Fish, canned 5.90 - 6.10

Turnips 5.29 - 5.90

Turnip, greens, cooked 5.40 - 6.20

Turnip, white, cooked 5.76 - 5.85

Turnip, yellow, cooked 5.57 - 5.82

Vegetable Juice 3.90 - 4.30

Vegetable soup, canned 5.16

Vegetable soup, chopped 4.98 - 5.02

Vegetable soup, strained 4.99 - 5.00

Vermicelli, cooked 5.80 - 6.50

Vinegar 2.40 - 3.40

Vinegar, cider 3.10

Walnuts, English 5.42

Water Chestnut 6.20

Watercress 5.88 - 6.18

Watermelon 5.18 - 5.60

Wheat Krispice 4.99 - 5.62

Wheaties 5.00 - 5.12

Worcestershire sauce 3.63 - 3.67

Yams, cooked 5.79 - 6.81

Yeast 5.65 -

Yangsberries, frozen 3.00 - 3.70

Zucchini, cooked 5.69 - 6.10

Zwiebach 4.84 - 4.94

References:

Anon. 1962. pH values of food products. Food Eng. 34(3): 98-99.

Bridges, M. A., & Mattice, M.R. 1939. Over 2,000 estimations of the pH of representative foods, American J. Digestive Diseases, 9:440-449.

Warren L. Landry & et al. 1995. Examination of canned foods. FDA Bacteriological Analytical
Manual, 8th Ed. Chapter 21, Table 11, AOAC International, Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Grahn M.A. 1984. Acidified & low acid foods from Southeast Asia. FDA-LIB
Home Acidified and Low-Acid Canned Foods

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