How many Snails can I eat with gout?

A typical serving is about 113 g, which delivers 206 mg of purines, or about 52% of a ~400 mg working daily target. Keep them to a small, occasional portion and avoid them during a flare.

Are Snails high in purines?

Snails are high in purines by weight: about 182 mg per 100 g. A typical 113 g serving works out to about 206 mg, or about 52% of a ~400 mg working daily target.

Do Snails cause gout?

No single food causes gout; it develops from high uric acid over time. But Snails are graded D, meaning they are high enough in purines to push uric acid up and can help set off a flare in people who are prone to one.

Snails

Also listed as: Snails, raw

Snails are higher risk. Keep portions small and occasional, especially during a flare. A typical 113 g serving has about 206 mg of purines, about 52% of a ~400 mg working daily target.

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

How much can I eat?

Units

A typical serving is about 113 g, which delivers 206 mg of purines, or about 52% of a ~400 mg working daily target.

This serving

4 oz

113 g

Purine / serving

206 mg

% daily purine

52%

Purines in this serving206 mg · 52% of a day

0 mg~400 mg daily limit

Adjust the serving

1 oz8 oz

You could have up to about 4 oz (110 g) before this reaches half a ~400 mg working daily purine target.

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 D

Higher risk. Keep portions small and occasional, especially during a flare.

Per 100 g (for comparison)

Purines High confidence

182 mg/100g

LowModerateHighVery high

High for gout (150–300 mg/100g).

Fructose Low confidence (estimated)

0 g/100g

LowModerateHighVery high

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

Fructose here is a category-level estimate, not a direct measurement for this food.

Processing: NOVA 1 of 4 (unprocessed or minimally processed). How processing affects the grade.

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

Grade a dish or browse every food rating

Sources

1. Purine data: USDA Purine Database 2025 - Table 2 (International) Evidence tier: Peer-reviewed literature Replication: 6 samples International literature sources
2. Fructose data: Biochemical derivation Evidence tier: Estimated

Source details
Biochemically derived value: (1) Distilled spirits contain no purines post-distillation; all nitrogen compounds are removed in the still. (2) Animal muscle tissue contains no fructose; mammalian/avian/fish cells do not synthesise or store fructose. Source: standard biochemistry references.

Values are per 100g unless a note says otherwise, rounded to three significant figures; per-serving figures are calculated from the unrounded measurement, so recomputing from the rounded number can differ by a milligram or so. A single determination is normal in food composition tables, not a defect. Last reviewed July 18, 2026.

How we grade foods

Grades combine purine and fructose data with known gout triggers and benefits. We show our confidence on every food.

Make it safer

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

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Purine 7.7 mg Fructose 0 g per 100 g

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Purine 137.3 mg Fructose 0 g per 100 g

Enjoy Shellfish & Seafood serving 20 g

Squid (shredded, dried)

Purine 94.4 mg Fructose 0 g per 100 g

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Snails

How much can I eat?

Why grade D

Make it safer

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Squid (shredded, dried)

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