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Last reviewed: 2026-09-03 • Editorial Standards

Red Meat Ranked by Purine Content

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

Lowest Purine Red Meat

#1corned beef46.9 mg
#2pork, bacon, unprepared61.8 mg
#3pork neck, raw70.6 mg
#4beef rib loin, raw74.3 mg
#5pork ribs, raw75.8 mg
#6beef chuck ribs, raw77.4 mg
#7beef front, raw (unspecified)77.4 mg
#8beef brisket, raw79.2 mg
#9Beef Brisket79.2 mg
#10beef stomach, raw84.0 mg

Highest Purine Red Meat

#65beef kidney, cooked230.8 mg
#64beef, ground, 73% lean meat / 27% fat, cooked4233.3 mg
#63pork loin, boneless, skinless, raw237.2 mg
#62pork loin, tenderloin, boneless, raw244.0 mg
#61salami, genoa, pork, beef246.2 mg
#60beef, ground, 93% lean meat / 7% fat, cooked4251.9 mg
#59pork liver, raw285.0 mg
#58pork, liver, raw289.0 mg
#57pork loin, boneless, skinless, cooked4333.5 mg
#56pork, cured, bacon, cooked4428.8 mg

Category Average: 149.3 mg/100g

The average across 65 Red Meat 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

Which red meat is lowest in purines?
Among 65 red meat items with measured purine values, the lowest options include corned beef at 46.9 mg/100g. Leaner cuts and smaller portions are the main levers for people managing gout.
Is red meat bad for gout?
Red meat is one of the most consistent dietary risk factors in gout research — the ACR 2020 guideline recommends limiting red meat intake. Most cuts sit in the moderate-to-high purine range. That does not mean zero intake for everyone; it means smaller portions, less frequent servings, and choosing lower-ranked cuts.
Which red meat is highest in purines?
The highest-purine red meat items in our database include pork, cured, bacon, cooked4 at 428.8 mg/100g. Heavily marbled cuts and processed red meats are the highest-risk choices and are usually limited or avoided in gout care.
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References

• ACR 2020 Guideline for the Management of Gout
• USDA+ODS-NIH PURINE DATABASE Release 2, March 2025
• Kaneko K, et al. Biol Pharm Bull 37(5):709-721, 2014. PMID: 24553148

Medical Disclaimer: This website provides informational content only and does not constitute medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-03