Low Phosphorus Foods: Table (BLS Values)

Fruit, most vegetables, rice, white bread, butter, oils and sugar are low in phosphorus. Within the high-protein groups, the differences are large: egg white has hardly any phosphorus, egg yolk has a lot; cream cheese and quark (a fresh, high-protein dairy product similar to strained yogurt) are far below hard cheese; fresh meat is below sausage.

The biggest savings come from avoiding phosphate additives: processed cheese, cooked ham, cooked sausages, cola, baked goods made with baking powder and many ready meals. In the ingredient list, look for "phosphate", "diphosphate", "polyphosphate" or E 338 to E 452.

This table does not replace a meal plan. With kidney disease, your phosphorus and potassium intake belongs under the guidance of a doctor or dietitian, because the limits depend on the stage of the disease and on your medications.

Phosphorus and the acid-base balance

Low phosphorus foods are almost always alkaline or neutral too, because phosphorus, together with protein, makes up the acid side of the PRAL. A low-phosphorus diet and an alkaline-focused diet therefore overlap to a large extent: plenty of vegetables, fruit and potatoes, little cheese and sausage.

The exception is a low-potassium plan: many alkaline foods are high in potassium. If you also have to limit potassium, pick the rows in this table with a low potassium value, for example apples, berries, cucumber, rice and pasta.

Foods low in phosphorus, by group

The foods lowest in phosphorus within each food group, so no group has to go entirely. The potassium column helps if you also need to limit potassium.

Fruit

Pineapple raw	121 mg K	6 mg	−2.6
Apple peeled, raw	110 mg K	9 mg	−2.0
Papaya raw	215 mg K	9 mg	−4.5
Watermelon raw	94 mg K	9 mg	−1.7
Lingonberry raw	80 mg K	10 mg	−1.4
Small cranberry raw	90 mg K	10 mg	−1.7
Quince raw	183 mg K	11 mg	−3.6
Pear raw	124 mg K	11 mg	−2.3
Mangosteen raw	188 mg K	11 mg	−3.6
Lime raw	135 mg K	11 mg	−2.5

Vegetables

Chayote raw	108 mg K	14 mg	−1.9
Cucumber raw	181 mg K	15 mg	−3.3
Small red radish raw	239 mg K	17 mg	−4.4
Sweet pepper green, raw	155 mg K	21 mg	−2.3
Aubergine raw	175 mg K	21 mg	−3.0
Tomato raw	239 mg K	22 mg	−4.2
Stalk celery raw	281 mg K	22 mg	−5.2
Butterhead lettuce raw	306 mg K	23 mg	−6.2
Looseleaf lettuce raw	221 mg K	23 mg	−4.4
Leek raw	275 mg K	23 mg	−4.6

Grains, bread and potatoes

Potatoe peeled, raw	381 mg K	31 mg	−6.6
Manioc/cassava, raw	344 mg K	38 mg	−6.3
Batata/sweet potato, raw	360 mg K	39 mg	−6.1
Yam raw	393 mg K	44 mg	−6.5
Gnocchi raw	155 mg K	50 mg	−0.1
Fresh pasta egg-free, raw	70 mg K	51 mg	+2.8
Finger-shaped pasta egg-free, raw	238 mg K	55 mg	−1.3
Puffed maize waffles salted	104 mg K	55 mg	+3.3
Chanterelle raw	450 mg K	57 mg	−5.8
Potato noodles (Schupfnudeln) raw	303 mg K	59 mg	−2.5

Eggs

Chicken egg white, raw	149 mg K	21 mg	+2.1
Duck egg raw	150 mg K	178 mg	+8.5
Goose egg raw	210 mg K	208 mg	+8.9
Quail egg raw	138 mg K	210 mg	+10.3

Dairy and cheese

Sour cream min. 20 % fat	130 mg K	80 mg	0.0
Yogurt low-fat, min. 1.5 % to max. 1.8 % fat	149 mg K	87 mg	+0.8
Buttermilk	158 mg K	89 mg	−0.1
Certified raw milk, min. 3.5 % fat	157 mg K	92 mg	−0.2
Whole milk, 3.5 % fat, ultra-heated	154 mg K	95 mg	+0.1
Milk low-fat, 1.5 % fat, ultra-heated	161 mg K	96 mg	−0.1
Mascarpone min. 80 % fat in dry matter	124 mg K	97 mg	+1.5
Soured milk (thick) min. 3.5 % fat	150 mg K	100 mg	+0.3
Yogurt made from sheep's milk	168 mg K	103 mg	+0.5
Goat's milk min. 3 % fat	181 mg K	109 mg	+0.1

Fish and seafood

Alaska pollock raw	295 mg K	120 mg	+3.1
Hake raw	294 mg K	142 mg	+6.4
Common cuttlefish raw	273 mg K	143 mg	+6.6
Greenland halibut raw	345 mg K	147 mg	+3.9
Striped catfish raw	240 mg K	151 mg	+7.3
European catfish raw	430 mg K	155 mg	+2.4
European oyster raw	184 mg K	157 mg	+4.5
Plaice raw	317 mg K	157 mg	+6.8
Anglerfish raw	235 mg K	157 mg	+7.7
Turbot raw	290 mg K	159 mg	+6.6

Meat, offal and sausages

Pork belly (untrimmed) marinated	239 mg K	118 mg	+6.8
Geselchte sausage smoked	180 mg K	120 mg	+7.3
Beef beer ham	174 mg K	120 mg	+8.1
Brawn Presssäckel	174 mg K	120 mg	+7.7
Cabanossi sausage scalded	185 mg K	120 mg	+7.6
Salami scalded	230 mg K	120 mg	+7.5
Jellied meatloaf	231 mg K	121 mg	+7.3
Corned beef	131 mg K	128 mg	+11.8
Mortadella South German	145 mg K	130 mg	+7.7
Filled ham	244 mg K	130 mg	+7.9

Source: Max Rubner-Institut (2025). Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel (BLS), version 4.0. German Nutrient Database. All values per 100 g of the edible portion. They do not replace medical or dietary advice.

Common questions about phosphorus

Which foods are low in phosphorus?

Fruit (usually 10 to 30 mg per 100 g), vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, lettuce, zucchini and bell peppers (20 to 40 mg), rice, white bread and pasta (60 to 120 mg), butter, oils, sugar and honey (under 25 mg), and, among protein sources, egg white and cream cheese.

Which cheese is low in phosphorus?

Cream cheese, cottage cheese, quark and mozzarella, with 100 to 350 mg per 100 g. Hard cheese has 600 to 900 mg. Processed cheese has over 1,000 mg because of its emulsifying salts, so it is the first thing to cut on a low-phosphate diet.

Which meat is low in phosphorus?

Fresh, unprocessed meat has 150 to 220 mg per 100 g; the differences between chicken, beef and pork are small. Sausage and cooked ham with added phosphate, as well as organ meats, are much higher.

How do I spot phosphate additives?

In the ingredient list, look for the terms phosphate, diphosphate, triphosphate, polyphosphate, phosphoric acid or the numbers E 338 to E 341 and E 450 to E 452. They are typical in processed cheese, cooked sausages, cooked ham, cola, baking mixes and instant products.

What should I keep in mind on a low-phosphorus, low-potassium diet?

Together, the two restrict vegetables and fruit a lot, so this combination calls for professional guidance. Helpful options are soaking and cooking in plenty of water (this lowers potassium), plus apples, berries, cucumber, rice, pasta and white bread.

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Low Phosphorus Foods: Table With Values per 100 g