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Canned Sardines

Also listed as: Sardine, canned

Canned Sardines are high in purines or a known trigger. They are best avoided, especially during a flare. A typical 113 g serving has about 451 mg of purines, about 113% of a ~400 mg working daily target.

General information, not a substitute for advice from your doctor or dietitian.

Across forms of sardine:CE· 131–451 mg per serving

How much can I eat?

Units

A typical serving is about 113 g, which delivers 451 mg of purines, or about 113% of a ~400 mg working daily target.

This serving
4 oz
113 g
Purine / serving
451 mg
% daily purine
113%
Purines in this serving451 mg · 113% of a day
0 mg~400 mg daily limit
1 oz8 oz

This food is very concentrated, so a small serving goes a long way; we don't suggest a larger amount.

Portion size is what matters most here, and it’s easy to misjudge by eye. A kitchen scale makes it simple.

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Why grade E

High in purines or a known trigger. Best avoided, especially during a flare.

Eating omega-3-rich fatty fish is associated with fewer recurrent gout flares, independent of purine intake; the benefit is from whole fish, not fish-oil supplements.

This benefit does not change the grade. Canned Sardines is still graded E on purine, so keep the portion small and occasional.

Per 100 g (for comparison)

Purines Moderate confidence
399 mg/100g
LowModerateHighVery high

Very high for gout (> 300 mg/100g).

Fructose High confidence
0 g/100g
LowModerateHighVery high

Low for gout (< 3 g/100g).

Processing: NOVA 3 of 4 (processed food). How processing affects the grade.

Eating canned sardines as part of a bigger dish? The Dish Decoder grades the whole plate, ingredient by ingredient.

Make it safer

Reaching for Canned Sardines? These lower-risk picks scratch the same itch and grade better.

Other forms of sardine

Different cuts, species, or preparations vary in purines. The most common form of "sardine" is shown first below.

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