Nutritional Composition of Some Wild Plant Foods and Honey Used by Hadza Foragers of Tanzania

Abstract

We report compositional data for several foods that comprise the annual diet among Hadza foragers near Lake Eyasi in northern Tanzania. Samples collected during daily gathering trips over three fieldwork seasons were prepared according to Hadza methods. All three types of honey show moisture and starch levels similar to United States' honeys but higher levels of protein, fat, and ash. Several samples had significant fat levels probably due to the inclusion of bee larvae. The macronutrient composition of six fruits is comparable to those of agricultural fruits, although they were somewhat higher in crude protein, carbohydrate, and energy and somewhat lower in fat. Baobab seed flour and fruit pulp are low in energy compared with most previously published results, partially because our study measured fiber directly, unlike the methods used in any other studies. Baobab seed is high in protein and fat as reported in other studies. Our field observations, in combination with our analytical data, suggest that baobab seed is an important source of energy and protein for these foragers.