On the basis of the results of a dietary investigation carried out in the Kitakyushu district in 1985, the nickel content of food was measured for representative daily diets taken by 6 adult males and females over the course of 3 consecutive days. The food specimens were subjected to flameless atomic absorption analysis after wet-ashing with an H₂SO₄ and HNO₃ acid mixture and daily nickel intake was estimated from the analytical values. The nickel content of rice was 22±19 μg/100 g, showing differences among specimens. The nickel content was less than 10.0 μg/100 g for the majority of foods, but higher amounts were detected in soybean, miso, soy, rice, spinach and cabbage. As a whole, vegetable foods showed higher nickel contents than animal foods. Nickel intake per day per capita was 280±90 μg for males and 190±40 μg for females. Rice, vegetable food other than rice, and animal food accounted for about 30, 65 and 5% of the daily nickel intake, respectively.