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Measurement of radionuclides concentration in foodstuffs allows to assess the intake's assimilated dose. This contributes at least one-eighth of the mean annual effective dose due to natural sources. Among the trace elements in foodstuff, potassium is one of the most important elements. It is a well-known essential element and it occurs all over the earth. Three of the most customary consumed foodstuffs in Mexico since pre-Hispanic time (by all social classes) are the following: bean, chili and corn meal ('tortillas'). They were analyzed by γ-spectrometry in order to determine K activity concentration, the derived annual effective dose, and the K mass fraction (%). Results show that the mean activity concentration of K, annual effective dose and K mass fraction (%) are as follow: 901 ± 90 Bq kg, 37.2 ± 3.7 μSv a and 2.84 ± 0.27 % for chili; 510 ± 10 Bq kg, 27.5 ± 0.5 μSv a and 1.60 ± 0.04 % for bean; and, 90 ± 30 Bq kg, 58.1 ± 19.4 μSv a and 0.27 ± 0.089 % for corn meal, 'masa'. The total effective dose intake from these typical foodstuffs is about 0.122 ± 15.6 mSv ain Mexico's urban zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]