Last reviewed: 2026-09-03 • Editorial Standards

Squid & Octopus Ranked by Purine Content

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

Lowest Purine Squid & Octopus

#1squid organs, raw59.6 mg
#2Squid Organs59.6 mg
#3Octopus Organs79.8 mg
#4octopus organs, raw79.9 mg
#5squid, shredded, dried94.4 mg
#6Shredded squid (dried)94.4 mg
#7Firefly squid128.1 mg
#8octopus, raw137.2 mg
#9Octopus137.3 mg
#10squid, raw (unspecified)150.8 mg

Highest Purine Squid & Octopus

#12Octopus Organs79.8 mg
#11octopus organs, raw79.9 mg
#10Shredded squid (dried)94.4 mg
#9squid, shredded, dried94.4 mg
#8Firefly squid128.1 mg
#7octopus, raw137.2 mg
#6Octopus137.3 mg
#5squid, raw (unspecified)150.8 mg
#4Spear squid160.5 mg
#3Japanese flying squid186.8 mg

Category Average: 114.0 mg/100g

The average across 12 Squid & Octopus 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

Every food in this comparison has been evaluated using a three-factor risk engine that independently assesses purine content, fructose level, and alcohol presence. Purine values come from two primary references — 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 data is sourced from USDA SR28 Food Composition Tables. The verdict system follows ACR 2020 guideline thresholds: Safe (purine <50 mg, fructose <2g, no alcohol), Moderate (purine 50-150 mg or fructose 2-5g), Avoid (purine >150 mg, fructose >5g, or alcohol present). Data quality is labeled T1 (lab-measured), T2 (measured + consensus), or T3 (category estimate) on each food's detail page.

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 squid bad for gout?
Squid is moderate-to-high in purines. Among 12 squid, octopus, and cuttlefish entries with measured values, levels range from about 59.6 mg/100g up to 186.8 mg/100g for flying squid. Calamari in normal portions occasionally is reasonable, but it is not a low-purine protein.
Which squid or octopus is lowest in purines?
The lowest options in our database are squid organs around 59.6 mg/100g, with most whole squid and octopus body meat falling in the moderate band. Japanese flying squid and spear squid are higher. If you eat cephalopods, choose plain steamed or grilled forms over fried and battered ones.
Is octopus high in purines?
Octopus is moderate in purines — comparable to squid and below shrimp and most small oily fish. A modest serving occasionally is acceptable for many people with gout. The bigger issues are portion and preparation: fried or garlic-butter preparations add fat, and restaurant portions tend to be large.