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Usage Notes

• Phosphorus (measured in milligrams) and calories are calculated per 100g of food.
• This phosphorus content of foods database contains approximately 7,000 most common food items.
• Click on column header to sort foods by name or by phosphorus or calories.
• Pie chart shows relative contributions to total calories from carbohydrate, protein and fat (and alcohol, if exists).

Phosphorus in Diet

Phosphorus is a mineral that makes up 1% of a person's total body weight. It is present in every cell of the body, but most of the phosphorus in the body is found in the bones and teeth.

Function of Phosphorus

The main function of phosphorus is in the formation of bones and teeth. It plays an important role in the body's utilization of carbohydrates and fats and in the synthesis of protein for the growth, maintenance, and repair of cells and tissues. It is also crucial for the production of ATP, a molecule the body uses to store energy.
Phosphorus works with the B vitamins. It also assists in the contraction of muscles, in the functioning of kidneys, in maintaining the regularity of the heartbeat, and in nerve conduction.

Phosphorus Deficiency

There is generally no deficiency of phosphorus because it is so readily available in the food supply. Excessively high levels of phosphorus in the blood, although rare, can combine with calcium to form deposits in soft tissues such as muscle.

Phosphorus and Kidney Disease

High levels of phosphorus in blood only occur in people with severe kidney disease or severe dysfunction of their calcium regulation. The kidneys help regulate the level of phosphorus in your blood. If your kidney function is impaired, eventually you'll likely have elevated phosphorus levels. In turn, the elevated phosphorus decreases the level of calcium in your blood, which can lead to bone disease. Advanced kidney disease patients have a list of foods they know to avoid because they naturally contain a high level of the mineral phosphorus, which is difficult for their compromised kidneys to expel. In general, 800 to 1,000 milligrams (mg) of phosphorus a day is the limit for someone who has kidney disease. Most healthy adults may eat double this amount.

Phosphorus and Hemodialysis

Phosphorus is found in many foods. If you have too much phosphorus in your blood, it pulls calcium from your bones. Losing calcium will make your bones weak and likely to break. Also, too much phosphorus may make your skin itch. Foods like milk and cheese, dried beans, peas, colas, nuts, and peanut butter are high in phosphorus. Usually, people on dialysis are limited to 1/2 cup of milk per day.

Phosphorus Food Sources

The main food sources are the protein food groups of meat and milk. A meal plan that provides adequate amounts of calcium and protein also provides an adequate amount of phosphorus.
Although whole-grain breads and cereals contain more phosphorus than cereals and breads made from refined flour, this is a storage form of phosphorus called phytin, which is not absorbed by humans.
Fruits and vegetables contain only small amounts of phosphorus.

Phosphorus-Rich Dairy and Egg Dishes

Top 100 dairy and egg products high in phosphorus content. Phosphorus content is in milligrams per 100 grams of food weight.

Dairy and Egg Dishes Highest in Phosphorus

Phosphorus

Whey, acid, dried

1349

KRAFT VELVEETA LIGHT Reduced Fat Pasteurized Process Cheese Product

1024

Milk, dry, nonfat, calcium reduced

1011

Milk, dry, nonfat, instant, without added vitamin A and vitamin D

985

Milk, dry, nonfat, instant, with added vitamin A and vitamin D

985

Milk, dry, nonfat, regular, with added vitamin A and vitamin D

968

Milk, dry, nonfat, regular, without added vitamin A and vitamin D

968

KRAFT CHEEZ WHIZ LIGHT Pasteurized Process Cheese Product

943

Milk, buttermilk, dried

933

Whey, sweet, dried

932

KRAFT FREE Singles American Nonfat Pasteurized Process Cheese Product

923

Egg, yolk, dried

920

Cheese spread, pasteurized process, American

875

KRAFT VELVEETA Pasteurized Process Cheese Spread

863

Cheese product, pasteurized process, American, vitamin D fortified

855

Egg, whole, dried

831

Cheese product, pasteurized process, American, reduced fat, fortified with vitamin D

829

KRAFT CHEEZ WHIZ Pasteurized Process Cheese Sauce

806

Milk, dry, whole, with added vitamin D

776

Milk, dry, whole, without added vitamin D

776

Cheese, pasteurized process, swiss

762

Cheese, romano

760

Cheese, pasteurized process, pimento

744

Cheese, parmesan, shredded

735

Cheese, parmesan, dry grated, reduced fat

729

Cheese, goat, hard type

729

Cheese, parmesan, grated

729

Egg, whole, dried, stabilized, glucose reduced

715

Parmesan cheese topping, fat free

700

Dairy and Egg Dishes Highest in Phosphorus

Phosphorus

Protein supplement, milk based, Muscle Milk Light, powder

700

Cheese, parmesan, hard

694

Protein supplement, milk based, Muscle Milk, powder

643

Cheese, pasteurized process, American, fortified with vitamin D

641

Cheese, pasteurized process, American, without added vitamin D

641

Cheese, gruyere

605

Cheese, Mexican, blend, reduced fat

583

USDA Commodity, cheese, cheddar, reduced fat

583

Cheese substitute, mozzarella

583

Cheese, swiss

567

Cheese, gouda

546

Cheese, edam

536

Cheese food, pasteurized process, swiss

526

Cheese, mozzarella, part skim milk, low moisture

524

Cheese, cream, fat free

523

Cheese, cheddar

512

Cheese, tilsit

500

Cheese, provolone

496

Cheese, provolone, reduced fat

496

Cheese, caraway

490

Cheese, low fat, cheddar or colby

484

Cheese, low-sodium, cheddar or colby

484

Egg substitute, powder

478

Cheese, dry white, queso seco

475

Cheese, muenster

468

Cheese, white, queso blanco

467

Cheese, cheshire

464

Cheese, mozzarella, part skim milk

463

Cheese, colby

457

Egg Mix, USDA Commodity

451

Cheese, brick

451

Dairy and Egg Dishes High in Phosphorus

Phosphorus

Cheese, monterey

444

Cheese, mexican, queso anejo

444

Cheese, gjetost

444

Cheese, mexican, queso asadero

443

Cheese, mexican, queso chihuahua

442

Cheese food, pasteurized process, American, vitamin D fortified

438

Cheese food, pasteurized process, American, without added vitamin D

438

Cheese, Mexican blend

438

Egg, yolk, raw, frozen, salted

431

Cream substitute, powdered

422

Egg, yolk, raw, frozen

417

Cheese, mozzarella, whole milk, low moisture

412

Cheese food, cold pack, american

400

Cheese, limburger

393

Cheese, roquefort

392

Egg, yolk, raw, fresh

390

Cheese, blue

387

Cheese, fresh, queso fresco

385

Egg, yolk, raw, frozen, sugared

384

Cheese, goat, semisoft type

375

Cheese, port de salut

360

Cheese, mozzarella, whole milk

354

Cheese, camembert

347

Cheese, fontina

346

Cheese, feta

337

Cheese fondue

306

Cheese, goat, soft type

256

Milk, canned, condensed, sweetened

253

Cheese sauce, prepared from recipe

229

Egg, quail, whole, fresh, raw

226

Egg, duck, whole, fresh, raw

220

Dairy and Egg Dishes High in Phosphorus

Phosphorus

Egg, whole, cooked, fried

215

Egg, goose, whole, fresh, raw

208

Milk, canned, evaporated, with added vitamin A

203

Milk, canned, evaporated, without added vitamin A and vitamin D

203

Milk, canned, evaporated, with added vitamin D and without added vitamin A

203

Egg, whole, raw, frozen

202

Egg, whole, raw, fresh

198

Egg, whole, cooked, poached

197

Milk, canned, evaporated, nonfat, with added vitamin A and vitamin D

195

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