Cadmium is an environmental contaminant that accumulates in the human kidneys. Non-rice grains, vegetables, and potatoes are major sources of cadmium in the U.S. However, the daily cadmium intake levels reported in studies conducted in the U.S. vary widely, ranging from 4.63 to 51.3 µg/day/person. Most studies in the U.S. have not measured the actual cadmium concentrations in the collected foods but utilized the database of the average cadmium concentrations provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In the present study, food and beverages were collected extensively in the U.S. from 1979 to 1980, and the actual cadmium concentrations were determined. Individual food intake data were obtained from a total diet study conducted in 1980 by the USDA. In accordance with previous reports, vegetables, grains, and potatoes were the primary sources of dietary cadmium intake. The estimated total cadmium intake was approximately 15 µg/day/person. We also found a 17-fold difference in cadmium concentrations in carrots between the production areas, which was greater than the variation reported for carrots in Japan. The factors affecting the variation in cadmium concentrations in vegetables, including carrots, need to be clarified. As the relative importance of vegetables as a source of cadmium intake is increasing in Japan due to decreased rice consumption, more attention should be paid to variations in cadmium concentrations in vegetables in Japan.