Which food has the higher carbon footprint?
Ten comparisons. One kilogram of each food. Choose the higher global average, then see the figures.
1 kilogram of product
Which has the higher global-average greenhouse gas footprint per kilogram?
Global means from Poore & Nemecek (2018), processed by Our World in Data. Reference year 2010. Not a serving comparison or personal footprint.
The answers, with numbers
All values are kg CO₂e per kg of product, at the source's published precision. These averages do not predict an individual farm or brand.
| Foods compared | kg CO₂e/kg | Higher average | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee / Cheese | 28.53 / 23.88 | Coffee | Change amount |
| Dark Chocolate / Beef (dairy herd) | 46.65 / 33.30 | Dark Chocolate | Change amount |
| Poultry Meat / Fish (farmed) | 9.87 / 13.63 | Fish (farmed) | Change amount |
| Rice / Eggs | 4.45 / 4.67 | Eggs | Change amount |
| Tomatoes / Milk | 2.09 / 3.15 | Milk | Change amount |
| Tofu / Pig Meat | 3.16 / 12.31 | Pig Meat | Change amount |
| Nuts / Peas | 0.43 / 0.98 | Peas | Change amount |
| Bananas / Apples | 0.86 / 0.43 | Bananas | Change amount |
| Prawns (farmed) / Lamb & Mutton | 26.87 / 39.72 | Lamb & Mutton | Change amount |
| Soy milk / Milk | 0.98 / 3.15 | Milk | Change amount |
Read the comparison correctly
The quiz compares equal mass, not equal nutrition or equal-sized servings. Close numbers, such as rice and eggs, are answers about this dataset, not a claim that every egg supply chain emits more than every rice supply chain. No uncertainty interval is provided here.
The captured indicator metadata does not reproduce detailed lifecycle stages. These figures are not presented as a cooked-meal or household cooking-and-waste estimate.
Our World in Data indicator · Poore & Nemecek, Science (2018)
Factor dataset and source notesQuestion data (JSON)Reuse and attribution
Suggested citation: Inzonex, Food Carbon Footprint Quiz, question pack 1.0.0. Values: Poore and Nemecek (2018), processed by Our World in Data, dataset edition 2019-10-08. Link to this quiz and retain the underlying attribution.
What does the score measure?
The score counts correct answers to these ten comparisons. It is not a personal carbon footprint, a dietary recommendation or a ranking against other players.
Are these emissions per serving?
No. Every value is kilograms of CO2-equivalent per kilogram of product. Equal mass is not equal servings, calories or protein.
How old are the figures?
The processed dataset has a 2010 reference year and a 2019-10-08 edition. The original study was published in 2018. These are not measurements made in 2026.
Can I reuse the questions?
The Inzonex question wording and score-card design are available under CC BY 4.0. Underlying values are attributed to Poore and Nemecek via Our World in Data; their source terms still apply. This does not license the original paper, logo or third-party assets.