Last reviewed: 2026-09-03 • Editorial Standards

Cod & Flatfish Ranked by Purine Content

Evidence-based comparison — data from USDA+ODS-NIH PURINE DATABASE Release 2 (March 2025)

Lowest Purine Cod & Flatfish

#1cod, fresh97.9 mg
#2cod, atlantic, wild, raw110.3 mg
#3flounder, yellow striped, raw113.0 mg
#4Yellow striped flounder113.0 mg
#5Bastard halibut133.4 mg
#6halibut, bastard, raw133.7 mg
#7fish, halibut, raw, with skin (alaska native)133.7 mg

Highest Purine Cod & Flatfish

#7cod, fresh97.9 mg
#6cod, atlantic, wild, raw110.3 mg
#5Yellow striped flounder113.0 mg
#4flounder, yellow striped, raw113.0 mg
#3Bastard halibut133.4 mg
#2fish, halibut, raw, with skin (alaska native)133.7 mg
#1halibut, bastard, raw133.7 mg

Category Average: 119.3 mg/100g

The average across 7 Cod & Flatfish foods with lab-measured data. Foods below this average are better-than-typical choices within this category.

How to Use This Ranking

The purine ranking is sorted from lowest to highest. Rank #1 is the lowest-purine food in the category. Foods in the top half (above median) should be consumed with more awareness of portion and frequency. The difference between adjacent ranks varies: in some categories, rank #5 and #10 might be only 10 mg apart; in others, the gap can be 100+ mg. Always check the actual milligram value, not just the position. Rankings do not account for fructose or alcohol — use individual food pages for a complete risk assessment.

ACR 2020 Guideline Context

The American College of Rheumatology recommends that gout patients focus on purine awareness rather than complete food group elimination. Within any category, there is a wide purine range. The goal is to shift toward lower-purine choices within categories you already eat, rather than eliminating entire food groups. This ranking helps you identify which specific items to prioritize and which to limit.

Japanese guidelines recommend under 400 mg of total dietary purines per day. Using this ranking, you can estimate how much of budget each food uses per typical serving.

How This Comparison Is Built

Each item here is scored by a three-factor risk engine covering purines, fructose, and alcohol. Purine values draw on the USDA+ODS-NIH PURINE DATABASE Release 2 (March 2025) and Kaneko et al. (Biol Pharm Bull 37(5):709-721, 2014, PMID: 24553148); fructose comes from USDA SR28 tables. Classification uses ACR 2020 thresholds — Safe under 50 mg purine and 2 g fructose with no alcohol, Moderate in between, Avoid above, or when alcohol is present. Each food page labels its data quality as T1 (lab-measured), T2 (measured plus consensus), or T3 (category estimate).

This comparison is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual tolerance to purines and fructose varies. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized dietary guidance. Last reviewed: 2026-09-03.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cod good for gout?
Cod is one of the lowest-purine seafoods and a good protein choice for gout. Among 7 cod, haddock, flounder, and halibut entries with measured values, most sit between 97.9 and 133.7 mg/100g — far below sardines, shrimp, and organ meats. Plain baked or grilled cod fits a gout plate well.
Which white fish is lowest in purines?
Fresh cod measures lowest in our database at about 97.9 mg/100g, with Atlantic cod, haddock, and flounder all clustering in the low-to-moderate band. Halibut runs a bit higher. The purine difference between white fish types is small, so choose by taste and cook plainly.
Is halibut safe for gout?
Halibut is moderate in purines and safe in normal portions for most people with gout. It measures higher than cod in our database (around 133.7 mg/100g when cooked forms are included) but well below oily fish like sardines. Treat halibut like any moderate-purine protein: reasonable portions, not a daily staple.