How much phosphate is in the food I eat?

Why is a phosphate restriction needed?

Phosphate is a mineral, it comes from the food we eat and it is important for your body tissues and bones. It is released from food in the stomach during digestion and absorbed into your blood. Your kidneys control how much phosphate stays in your body.

When your kidneys are not working properly the amount of phosphate in your body can build up and cause problems. To help control this you will need to change the types of food you eat and you may need to begin a medication (phosphate binder).

Phosphate binders

Your child may be prescribed a phosphate binder. Phosphate binders work like magnets and bind to phosphate in the stomach before it is absorbed into the blood. It is then removed through the bowels. Binders need to be taken just before meals.

If you eat snacks between meals you may need to take a phosphate binder. If you miss a meal you do not need to take a binder.

Ask your dietitian for advice. They can advise you on:

· Type of binder
· How many and when to take

Effects of high phosphate
You may not feel any symptoms of high phosphate levels however serious problems may be occurring.

Daily problems
You may experience the following:

· Itchy skin
· Red eyes
· Bone or joint pain

Long term problems
Ongoing high phosphate levels can cause:

· Bone disease
· Build up of mineral deposits in heart and major blood vessels leading to heart disease

Phosphate additives

Phosphate additives are increasingly added to food products and beverages during food processing and can contribute a significant “hidden phosphate load”

Some meats have a phosphate content 70% higher than those not containing additives.

See table below for the phosphate additives: try to limit/avoid these foods.


Phosphate Additives

 Food Industry Purpose

 Examples of Food
Phosphoric acid

 Acid

 Processed meats, cakes, chocolate, sweets, jams, vegetable fats and oils, cola drinks, beer

  
Sodium phosphate

 Antioxidant

 Processed meat, processed cheese, powdered milk

  
Potassium phosphate

 Antioxidant

 Cured meats, milk and cream powders, drinking chocolate

  
Calcium phosphate

 Anti-caking agent, firming agent

 Self-raising flour, cake and pancake mixes, powdered milk drinks, instant pasta and sauces

  
Magnesium phosphate

 Anti-caking agent

 Salt substitutes, prepared mustard

  
Diphosphate

 Emulsifier

 Processed cheese, instant mashed potatoes, cakes

  
Triphosphate

 Emulsifier

 Fish fingers

  
Polyphosphate

 Emulsifier

 Dried foods and desserts

  
Distarch phosphate

 Thickening agent

 Batters for frozen foods, custards, sauces, mayonnaise, salad dressings, pies and fillings, dried foods, drinking yoghurt, flavoured milk, whipped cream, pre-cooked pasta and noodles, starch based puddings, instant beverages

  


Some of the foods listed in the table have this symbol as these foods could be high in potassium or salt *
The foods in this diet sheet have been grouped in to sections and colour coded using a traffic light system


Foods lower in phosphate: can have daily (green)

Foods moderate in phosphate: have twice a week (orange)

Foods highest in phosphate: have once a week (red)


Some of the foods listed on the table have this symbol as these foods could be high in potassium or salt *

Dairy & Eggs - Portions per day: 3

  <100mg

  Mayonnaise 1 tablespoon trace
  1 egg white

5
  Single cream 1 tablespoon (15g)

10
  Double cream 1 tablespoon (30g whipped)

 15
  Tzatziki, 1 tablespoon

30
  Crème fraiche  (60g)

 35
  Evaporated milk 1 tablespoon *

 40
  Condensed milk 1 tablespoon*

 40
  Soya milk  unsweetened (100ml)

45
  Soya milk unsweetened (100ml)

50
  Cream cheese

e.g. Philadelphia or Boursin (50g)

50
  Cottage cheese (50g)/Feta (30g)

 85
  Ricotta (50g)

85
  Skim/semi/full fat milk 100ml *

 95
  1 medium egg

 95

n 100-150mg

  Custard ready to eat (120g)

100
  Yoghurt, plain (60g)

 105
  Danish blue (30g)

105
  Ice cream 2 scoops (120g)

 110
  Brie/Camembert (50g)

120
  Rice pudding (150g)

130
  Mozzarella (50g) / Parmesan (20g)

135


n >150mg

  Edam (30g)

155
  Greek style yoghurt , 1 pot 

165
  Whole milk yoghurt  (120g pot )*

 205
  Instant whip/angel delight (125g)

230
  Plain quiche 1 slice  100g

235
  Cheddar 50g*/cheese spread 30g *
e.g. Dairylea, Primula, Laughing Cow

 250
  Processed cheese 2 slices *

 385


Meat, Meat Alternatives and Fish - Portions per day: 2 small

n < 150mg

  Fish paste, thinly spread on 1 slice bread

30
Bacon, 1 rasher (25g*)

 45
Crab, 1/2 small can

55
Prawns, small portion (60g*)

 75
Anchovies, canned ½ tin *

 75
Fish fingers, 2 fingers

80
Ham, 1 slice (25g *)

85
Cod, small fillet, baked (50g)

95
Tuna, canned in spring water/sunflower oil, 1/2 small can (50g)

100
Lamb, roast small portion

100
1 Fishcake

 100
Chicken drumstick, meat/skin only (50g)

100
Scotch egg, 1 mini

100
Beef burger (40g)

100
Gammon steak, boiled, small portion (50g*)

 110
Cornish pastie (150g)

110
Mussels, 5 mussels

115
Quorn pieces (50g)

120
  Beef, mince/beef stewing steak (70g *)

 125
Salmon, smoked (50g*)/1 canned sardine

130
Lamb chop 65g (meat only)

 140
Shepherds pie (200g)

140
Beef curry (90g *)

 145
Salmon, canned, 1/2 of a small can (50g)

145


n 150-179 mg

  Sausages (2)

150
Turkey, roast, light meat, (70g)

 150
Calamari 3 pieces fried in batter

 155

n >180mg

  Liver pate, spread on bread (40g)

 180
Cod small fillet in batter at home (120g)

 190
Chicken curry (140g)

 195
Quorn mince  (100g)

205
Scampi in breadcrumbs (80g)

 210
Kipper 1 small fillet (85g grilled)

 230
Salmon steak, baked (100g)

260
Pork chop (120g)

 300
Cod, small fillet in batter, take away (180g)

375
Smoked mackerel (160g *)

 380

Nuts, legumes and pulses - Portions per day: Nuts, legumes and pulses are good alternative to meat and fish.

Foods in this group could be used in place of meat and fish at a meal time

n <100mg

  Butter beans (50g)

35
  Chickpeas  (50g)

 40
  Broad beans boiled  (50g)

 50
  Hummous (30g)

50
  Split peas boiled  (50g)

 60
  Mushy peas (60g *)

 60
  Chestnuts dried (50g)

70
  Pinto peas (50g)

 75
  Mung beans boiled (100g)

 80
  Pigeon peas boiled  (100g)

 110
  Red lentils boiled (100g)

 100
  Sunflower seeds, 1 tablespoon (15g)

100


n 100-150mg
  Walnuts (30g)

115
  Baked beans (135g*)

 120
  Soya beans boiled  (50g)

 125
  Peanuts, dry roasted (30g*)

 125
  Brown/green lentils boiled  (100g)

 130
  Red kidney beans boiled  (50g)

 130
  Pine nuts (20g)

130
  Peanut butter,  thickly spread on bread (40g)

 130
  Black eyed beans  boiled  (50g)

140
  Tahini paste, 1 heaped teaspoon(20g*) /Sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon (20g)

145
  Cashew nuts, roasted (30g)

 150


n >150mg

  Almond toasted (30g)

170
  Aduki beans, boiled (100g)

 180
  Black gram beans cooked (100g)

 185
  Quinoa, 2 tablespoon (85g)

 195

Breads and Cereals - Portions per day: 5-6 per day, aim for 1-2 portions with each meal

n <100mg

  Cornflakes/Crunchy nut/Frosties  (30g)

15
  Bread sticks (20g)

 25
  Rice white, cooked, 2 tablespoon

30
  Rice krispies/Coco pops/Weetos (30g)

40
  Sugar puffs (30g)

45
  Porridge (1 small portion made with water)

 50
  Special K (30g)

 50
  Yorkshire pudding x 1

50
  Croissant/pancake homemade

 55
  Weetabix  x 1 bix /Shredded Wheat  x 1

60
  Brioche (45g) /English muffin x 1

 60
  Cheerios (30g)/Shreddies (30g)

70
  Scotch pancake

 70
  White bread, 2 slices (medium)

 70
  Small pitta bread

 75
  Chapatti  x 1 large

80
  Couscous , 2 tablespoon cooked

 85
  Bagel - plain/Crumpet x 1

 90
  White pasta, cooked (100g)

 90

n 100-150mg

  Bran flakes (30g)

105
  Ready brek (30g)

110
  Rice brown, cooked 2  tablespoon

110
  White plain flour (100g)

115
  Granary bread , 2 slices

125
  Chapati flour white (100g)

 130
  Tortilla, 1 wrap

140
  Wholemeal bread , 2 slices

145


n >150mg

  Naan bread (Mini, 60g)

180
  All-bran (30g) *

 190
  Gram flour (100g)

220
  Wholemeal flour (100g)

280
  Scone  plain

330
  Chapatti flour brown (100g)

 375
  White, self raising flour (100g)

465


Confectionery - Portions per day: aim for no more than twice 

n Less than <50mg

  Peppermints/marshmallows

trace
  Fruit pastilles

 2
  Turkish delight (no chocolate, 2 cubes)

 2
  Starburst/Chewits/boiled sweets (50g)

 5
  Liquorice allsorts*

 25
  Toffee (50g)

 30
  Blue Riband/Time Out (1 finger)

 35
  Milky Way (standard)/Kit Kat (x2 fingers)

 35

n 50-100mg

  Crème egg

50
  Bounty bar/Smarties (tube)

 60
  Twix (2 finger)

 65
  Plain chocolate (100g)

 70
  Mars bar (standard  size, 65g)

 80
  Bombay mix (30g)

 90

n >100mg
  Milk chocolate bar (50g)

 110
  White chocolate  bar (50g)

 115

Drinks

n <65mg

  Squash, lemonade, Fanta, 7 up, Tango, Cherryade

 trace
  Lucozade (original only) 200ml

2

n 65-150mg  once per week maximum
  Coca cola/Dr Pepper , 330ml (can)

 100

n >150mg — 1 time per month
  Cocoa made with milk  (200ml)

205
  Horlicks made with milk  (200ml)

 235
  Ovaltine made with milk  (200ml)

 260
  Milkshake, takeaway (250ml)

300

Children’s Dietitians
The Department of Dietetics and Nutrition
Queen’s Medical Centre Campus
Derby Road
Nottingham
NG7 2UH