The concentrations of nitrates in total diet samples prepared at 11 places were determined according to the market basket method, and the daily intake of nitrates was estimated based on the analysis results. The mean estimated daily intake of nitrates was 200 mg/man/day (4.0 mg/kg/day) and exceeded the ADI (3.7 mg/kg/day) set by the JECFA by 8%. The principal sources of the nitrates were colored vegetables (7th food group) and other vegetables, seaweeds and mushrooms (8th food group), and the intake from these food groups accounted for more than 80% of the total intake. The reported concentrations of nitrates in individual foods and the estimated daily intake of these foods indicate that the intake of nitrates from spinach accounts for 38% of the ADI, that from Chinese cabbage for 10%, and that from Japanese radish for 20%.