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August 31, 2010

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U of M nutrition center finds popular State Fair foods packed with calories

KEYWORDS: School of Public Health, Outreach, Education

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Considering the high calorie counts of some State Fair food favorites, people may want to choose their eating options wisely, according to tests from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health’s Nutrition Coordinating Center and Food and Nutrient Database.

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MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (Aug. 31, 2010) – Deep-fried foods, greasy treats-on-a-stick and sugar-packed snacks are dietary staples for most Minnesota State Fairgoers.

But considering the high calorie counts of some State Fair food favorites, people may want to choose their eating options wisely, according to tests from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health’s Nutrition Coordinating Center and Food and Nutrient Database.

The Center recently took calorie counts of some of the most popular State Fair foods available this year. It appears that consuming just a couple of these items during one trip could put men well over their recommended daily calorie intake of about 2.400, and women well over their recommended intake of 2,000.

Foods tested, calorie counts

  • Caramel covered apple (1 order): 347
  • Cheese curds (1 order): 759
  • Corn on the cob with butter (1 cob): 179
  • Cotton candy (1 bag): 323
  • Flowering onion with ranch dressing: 980
  • Funnel cake/ Elephant ear (1 each): 452
  • Mini donuts (1 bag): 622
  • Pronto pup (1 each): 350
  • Taffy (30 piece box): 557

“There is a perception that what one eats when going to an event such as the State Fair doesn't matter because it's a special occasion that only happens once a year,” said Lisa Harnack, Ph.D., professor and director of the Nutrition Coordinating Center.

“The problem with this thinking is that all the special occasions in our lives add up and play a significant role in our affecting our health,” she said. “Consider that Americans consume about 40 percent of their calories from meals eaten away from the home, so making those meals healthy is important.”

For more information about the School of Public Health’s Nutrition Coordinating Center and Food and Nutrient Database, visit www.ncc.umn.edu. To interview Lisa Harnack about the nutrition of Minnesota State Fair foods, call Nick Hanson at 612-624-2449.


  • Nutrition Coordinating Center


    The Nutrition Coordinating Center provides databases, software, training, and services for the collection and analysis of dietary data. The center distributes and supports dietary analysis software applications for the collection and coding of 24-hour dietary recalls and the analysis of food records, menus, and recipes. The center also maintains a comprehensive research-quality food and nutrient database, the only one of it’s kind nationally. The database of more than 18,000 foods has been in existence for 35 years.

  • School of Public Health


    For more than 60 years, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health has been among the top accredited schools of public health in the nation. With a mission focused on research, teaching, and service, the school attracts nearly $100 million in sponsored research each year, has more than 100 faculty members and more than 1,300 students, and is engaged in community outreach activities locally, nationally and in dozens of countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.sph.umn.edu. The School’s Centers for Public Health Education and Outreach promotes lifelong learning to bridge academic and public health practice communities.


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Contact Information

Nick Hanson
Media Relations Associate
Academic Health Center
612-624-2449

Justin Paquette
Media Relations Manager
Academic Health Center
612-626-7037