Nutritional composition of some wild plant foods and honey used by Hadza foragers of Tanzania

We report compositional data for several foods that comprise the annual die t among Hadza foragers near Lake Eyasi in northern Tanzania. Samples collec ted during daily gathering trips over three fieldwork seasons were prepared according to Hadza methods. All three types of honey show moisture and sta rch levels similar to United States' honeys but higher levels of protein, f at, and ash. Several samples had significant fat levels probably due to the inclusion of bee larvae. The macronutrient composition of six fruits is co mparable to those of agricultural fruits, although they were somewhat highe r in crude protein, carbohydrate, and energy and somewhat lower in fat. Bao bab seed flour and fruit pulp are low in energy compared with most previous ly published results, partially because our study measured fiber directly, unlike the methods used in any other studies. Baobab seed is high in protei n and fat as reported in other studies. Our field observations, in combinat ion with our analytical data, suggest that baobab seed is an important sour ce of energy and protein for these foragers. (C) 2001 Academic Press.