Bologna, meat and poultry
Whole food · Sausages and Luncheon Meats
Photo: Wikipedia
Bologna is a finely ground, emulsified sausage, typically made from a blend of beef, pork, or poultry, with a smooth, uniform texture and a mild, slightly sweet, smoky flavor. Its nutrition is defined by its high fat content, which provides a rich mouthfeel, while offering a moderate protein boost. It's a classic, ready-to-eat deli staple.
💚 Why it's loved
People love bologna for its nostalgic, comforting flavor and its unmatched convenience as a fast sandwich filler or snack. Its mild taste makes it a kid-friendly favorite and a blank canvas for bold condiments like mustard and pickles.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Bologna is typically high in sodium and saturated fat, which can be a concern for heart health and blood pressure. To counteract this, pair it with fiber-rich vegetables (like lettuce, tomato, or onion in a sandwich), choose lower-sodium varieties when available, and practice portion control by using thin slices.
Key benefits
- Quick source of protein and energy
- Long shelf life when refrigerated
- Highly versatile in sandwiches and cooked dishes
- Consistent texture and flavor profile
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The name 'bologna' comes from the Italian city of Bologna, where a similar sausage called 'mortadella' originated, though modern American bologna is a very different product.
Full nutrition (scales with serving)
| Water | 55.9 g |
| Energy | 281 kcal |
| Energy | 1174 kj |
| Protein | 10.3 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 23.8 g |
| Ash | 3.6 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 6.3 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 2.0 g |
| Sucrose | 0.00 g |
| Glucose | 1.2 g |
| Fructose | 0.00 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.77 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 125 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.2 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 15.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 212 mg |
| Potassium, K | 320 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 1379 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.1 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.04 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.04 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 14.4 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.05 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.16 mg |
| Niacin | 3.2 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.77 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.19 mg |
| Folate, total | 7.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 7.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 7.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 59.3 mg |
| Betaine | 3.9 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.47 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.59 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.31 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 34.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.80 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 1.7 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 7.4 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 5.3 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.06 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 2.0 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 10.3 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.03 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.93 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.91 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.05 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 9.0 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 8.8 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.19 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.09 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c | 0.09 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 4.6 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 4.1 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 4.0 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.21 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.20 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3i | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.09 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.05 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.04 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.10 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.18 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.15 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.01 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.14 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.04 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.04 g |
| Cholesterol | 92.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.11 g |
| Threonine | 0.37 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.42 g |
| Leucine | 0.78 g |
| Lysine | 0.76 g |
| Methionine | 0.25 g |
| Cystine | 0.14 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.38 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.30 g |
| Valine | 0.48 g |
| Arginine | 0.67 g |
| Histidine | 0.30 g |
| Alanine | 0.65 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.91 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.5 g |
| Glycine | 0.70 g |
| Proline | 0.73 g |
| Serine | 0.43 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.25 g |
FAQ
What is bologna made of?
It's an emulsified sausage made from finely ground and cooked meat, which can be beef, pork, chicken, turkey, or a blend, along with spices, salt, and curing agents.
Is bologna the same as mortadella?
No. While related, American bologna is typically smoother and milder. Italian mortadella is a protected product with visible chunks of pork fat and often includes pistachios or olives.
Can I eat bologna raw?
Yes, bologna is pre-cooked and ready to eat straight from the package. However, frying it until crispy is a popular way to enhance its flavor and texture.