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Last reviewed: 2026-09-03 • Editorial Standards

Sausage Ranked by Purine Content

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

Lowest Purine Sausage

#1sausage, vienna type45.5 mg
#2Frankfurt sausage49.8 mg
#3frankfurter49.9 mg
#4frankfurter, beef, unheated114.9 mg
#5frankfurter, beef, heated4115.2 mg
#6salami120.4 mg
#7frankfurter, mixed meat, heated4159.3 mg
#8pork sausage, uncured, link/patty, raw160.1 mg
#9frankfurter, mixed meat, unheated169.5 mg
#10pork sausage, uncured, link/patty, cooked4213.2 mg

Highest Purine Sausage

#12frankfurter49.9 mg
#11frankfurter, beef, unheated114.9 mg
#10frankfurter, beef, heated4115.2 mg
#9salami120.4 mg
#8frankfurter, mixed meat, heated4159.3 mg
#7pork sausage, uncured, link/patty, raw160.1 mg
#6frankfurter, mixed meat, unheated169.5 mg
#5pork sausage, uncured, link/patty, cooked4213.2 mg
#4salami, dry or hard, pork, beef215.1 mg
#3salami, genoa, pork, beef246.2 mg

Category Average: 138.3 mg/100g

The average across 12 Sausage 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 sausage bad for gout?
Sausages and hot dogs are moderate in purines and carry added sodium and fat. Among 12 sausages with measured values, the lowest options include sausage, vienna type at 45.5 mg/100g. They are not the worst food for gout, but they are easy to over-eat, and processed meat intake has been associated with higher gout risk in cohort studies — treat them as an occasional food.
Can I eat hot dogs with gout?
Hot dogs are moderate in purines — around 45.5 mg/100g in our database. An occasional hot dog is not a disaster, but processed meats in general have been associated with higher gout risk, and a couple of hot dogs plus a beer is a classic flare setup. Chicken-based sausages run lower than pork/beef versions.
Which sausage is lowest in purines?
The lowest-purine sausages in our database include sausage, vienna type at 45.5 mg/100g and Frankfurt sausage at 49.8 mg/100g. Poultry-based sausages generally measure lower than pork and beef varieties. Portion and frequency matter more than brand.
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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