Question

Arrange the following foods in terms of the Average Ascorbic acid (mg) content (raw) per 100 g of food from highest to lowest content:
A. Roots and Tubers
B. Cereals
C. Nuts and Oilseeds
D. Green Leafy Vegetables
E. Meat and Poultry
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. C, B, A, D, E
• B. D, A, E, C, B
• C. E, A, D, C, B
• D. B, E, A, C, D

Hint:

To solve food composition ranking questions, remember that raw, dry grains (cereals and pulses) contain zero Vitamin C, which is synthesized only when the seeds germinate.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is a water-soluble vitamin that is highly sensitive to heat, light, and oxidation.
Its primary dietary sources are fresh plant tissues, with animal products and dry seeds containing negligible to low amounts.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us compare the average raw ascorbic acid content (mg per 100 g) across the listed food groups:
Green Leafy Vegetables (D): Excellent sources of Vitamin C, with average values ranging from 50 to 150 mg/100 g (e.g., drumstick leaves, coriander, spinach). This is the highest group.
Roots and Tubers (A): Contain moderate amounts of Vitamin C, typically ranging from 10 to 30 mg/100 g (e.g., potatoes, sweet potatoes).
Meat and Poultry (E): Fresh meat generally contains very low levels of Vitamin C (around 1 to 3 mg/100 g), though fresh liver can contain slightly higher amounts (up to 10-20 mg/100 g).
Nuts and Oilseeds (C): Dry nuts and oilseeds contain negligible amounts of Vitamin C (usually less than 1 mg/100 g), which can increase only upon germination.
Cereals (B): Dry cereal grains (such as wheat, rice, and maize) contain virtually zero ascorbic acid in their raw, ungerminated state.
Arranging these groups from highest to lowest ascorbic acid content yields:
Green Leafy Vegetables (D) \(\rightarrow\) Roots and Tubers (A) \(\rightarrow\) Meat and Poultry (E) \(\rightarrow\) Nuts and Oilseeds (C) \(\rightarrow\) Cereals (B).
This matches the sequence D, A, E, C, B.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct sequence from highest to lowest ascorbic acid content is D, A, E, C, B.