Food composition is a term that is used to describe an analysis of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutritive substances in a given food. In addition to vitamins and minerals, many food composition reports include information on and analysis of phytonutrients and macronutrients within a food. Food composition information can be used for a number of purposes. It can be used to make sure that a certain person, family, or population is getting enough of one kind of nutrient, vitamin, or mineral. It can also be used to define certain foods that may or may not have allergens. An abbreviated version of a food composition report appears on the labels of most kinds of packaged food and is intended for the same sorts of uses described above.

There are a number of organizations including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that compile and disseminate information on food composition. The food composition information that is available from an organization like the USDA is usually much more detailed than the information that is printed on packaged foods. The full-length version of a food composition report for creamed corn baby food will list many — in some cases, dozens of — vitamins, minerals, lipids, and amino acids. This information can be used to find out, for example, how much lysine is present in one cup of this particular kind of baby food.

Many countries, especially developed countries, require that packaged foods include food composition tables. Even very basic foods such as bottled water, packaged blue berries, and ground beef are required to have at least an abbreviated food composition table on their package. Imported packaged foods that either do not have a composition table or do not have a sufficient composition table often must have the required information affixed to the exterior of the package in order for the food to be legally sold within the country to which it has been imported.

Most people use food composition tables for just a few pieces of information. It is common for people to review the calories and fats that are present in a packaged food. For those who are watching their salt intake, sodium content is an important item on the food composition chart. One of the main purposes of the chart is to provide information for people to make informed choices when it comes to their diet.