nutrient

Monounsaturated fat

Monounsaturated fatty acids contain one carbon–carbon double bond.

Their chain structure distinguishes them from saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids; foods contain mixtures rather than isolated classes.

One point of unsaturation

Cis-monounsaturated fatty acids have one double bond in the carbon chain. The category includes different chain lengths and food sources, so a total monounsaturated-fat value is a compositional measure.

Food sources

Per 100 g
Food amounts per 100 g
FoodPer 100 g
Almonds, dry-roasted and salted34.2 g
Almonds31.3 g
English walnuts, raw9.62 g
Beef ribeye, raw7.73 g
Hummus, commercial6.37 g
Show 20 more foods
Food amounts per 100 g
FoodPer 100 g
Ground flaxseed5.94 g
Atlantic salmon, farmed, raw5.01 g
Ground beef, 90% lean and 10% fat4.48 g
Atlantic salmon, farmed, cooked (SR Legacy 2018)4.18 g
Atlantic sardines, canned in oil (SR Legacy 2018)3.87 g
Atlantic salmon, farmed, raw (SR Legacy 2018)3.77 g
Braised chicken drumstick2.35 g
Roasted beef tenderloin2.26 g
Braised chicken breast1.26 g
Salmon1.14 g
Rainbow trout, wild, raw (SR Legacy 2018)1.13 g
Plain whole-milk yogurt0.87 g
Cottage cheese, 2% fat0.47 g
Soy milk, unsweetened and shelf-stable0.42 g
Chicken breast, raw0.37 g
Low-fat milk, 1% and fortified0.21 g
Light tuna, canned in water, drained0.11 g
Lentils, cooked and salted (SR Legacy 2018)0.06 g
Greek yogurt, plain nonfat0.04 g
Spinach, raw (SR Legacy 2018)0.01 g
About these amounts

These values describe the named food and preparation. A 100 g comparison is not a suggested serving. Small amounts are rounded for display; an unreported amount is not zero.

Portions recorded by the source

  • Almonds, dry-roasted and salted: 1 cup (135 g) — 46.17 g.
  • Hummus, commercial: 2 tablespoon (33.9 g) — 2.16 g.
  • Braised chicken drumstick: 1 drumstick (104 g) — 2.44 g.
  • Roasted beef tenderloin: 1 roast (462 g) — 10.44 g.
  • Braised chicken breast: 1 piece (174 g) — 2.19 g.
  • Cottage cheese, 2% fat: 1 cup (220 g) — 1.03 g.
  • Low-fat milk, 1% and fortified: 1 cup (246 g) — 0.52 g.
  • Light tuna, canned in water, drained: 1 can (142 g) — 0.16 g.
  • Greek yogurt, plain nonfat: 1 container (156 g) — 0.07 g.

The source records and EFSA guidance are linked in References below.

Related topics

  • Total fat includes Monounsaturated fat

    Total fat is a compositional category that includes monounsaturated fatty acids.

Worth knowing

  • No separate EFSA DRV. EFSA did not set a dietary reference value for cis-monounsaturated fatty-acid intake.

  • Food sources contain mixtures. Oils, nuts, seeds and other foods contain mixtures of fatty acids rather than one isolated monounsaturated molecule.

A closer look

Food context remains visible

Replacing one fat with another changes the comparison. The label class alone is not a complete description of a dietary pattern or health effect.

References

Source-checked local draft.
Human editorial review pending.

  1. European Food Safety AuthorityScientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for fats, including saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, and cholesterolChecked 2026-09-05
  2. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research ServiceFoodData Central Foundation Foods, April 2026 JSON releaseChecked 2026-09-05
  3. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research ServiceFoodData Central SR Legacy, April 2018 JSON releaseChecked 2026-09-05
  4. European Food Safety AuthorityScientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for magnesiumChecked 2026-09-04
  5. NIH Office of Dietary SupplementsMagnesium: Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsChecked 2026-09-04
  6. USDA Agricultural Research ServiceFoodData CentralChecked 2026-09-04
  7. NIH Office of Dietary SupplementsVitamin D: Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsChecked 2026-09-05

Take it into the kitchen

Explore this nutrient in simple meals. Recipe pages show estimated amounts and missing data.

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