GetFoodFacts

Foods high in cholesterol

The most cholesterol per typical portion among 12,933 USDA reference foods: brains, 4,305 mg in 1 cup, 1435% of the 300 mg Daily Value. 164 of the 1,026 foods ranked give at least 20% of the Daily Value in one portion; the top 50 are shown, the top 150 are in the CSV.

Updated · By · data: USDA FoodData Central, April 30, 2026 release · how the figures are checked

Which foods have the most cholesterol per portion?

  1. 1
    Brains
    Brains · 1 cup (140 g)
    4,305mg1435% DV · 3,075 mg per 100 g · 4,100 mg per 200 calories
  2. 2
    Lamb
    Lamb, New Zealand, imported, brains, cooked, soaked and fried · 3 oz (85 g)
    2,175mg725% DV · 2,559 mg per 100 g · 3,323 mg per 200 calories
  3. 3
    Goose egg
    Goose egg, cooked · 1 egg (144 g)
    1,151mg384% DV · 799 mg per 100 g · 713 mg per 200 calories
  4. 4
    Egg
    Egg, turkey, whole, fresh, raw · 1 egg (79 g)
    737mg246% DV · 933 mg per 100 g · 1,091 mg per 200 calories
  5. 5
    Duck egg
    Duck egg, cooked · 1 egg (70 g)
    580mg193% DV · 828 mg per 100 g · 739 mg per 200 calories
  6. 6
    Turkey liver
    Turkey, all classes, liver, cooked, simmered · 3 oz (85 g)
    551mg184% DV · 648 mg per 100 g · 686 mg per 200 calories
  7. 7
    Hog maws
    Hog maws · 1 cup (140 g)
    491mg164% DV · 351 mg per 100 g · 281 mg per 200 calories
  8. 8
    Lamb liver
    Lamb, New Zealand, imported, liver, cooked, soaked and fried · 3 oz (85 g)
    481mg160% DV · 566 mg per 100 g · 674 mg per 200 calories
  9. 9
    Chicken liver
    Chicken, liver, all classes, cooked, pan-fried · 3 oz (85 g)
    479mg160% DV · 564 mg per 100 g · 656 mg per 200 calories
  10. 10
    434mg145% DV · 511 mg per 100 g · 532 mg per 200 calories
  11. 11
    426mg142% DV · 501 mg per 100 g · 455 mg per 200 calories
  12. 12
    Calamari
    Calamari, cooked · 1 cup (135 g)
    396mg132% DV · 293 mg per 100 g · 378 mg per 200 calories
  13. 13
    Chicken heart
    Chicken, heart, all classes, cooked, simmered · 1 cup, chopped or diced (145 g)
    351mg117% DV · 242 mg per 100 g · 262 mg per 200 calories
  14. 14
    Chitterlings
    Chitterlings · 1 cup (125 g)
    344mg115% DV · 275 mg per 100 g · 238 mg per 200 calories
  15. 15
    337mg112% DV · 396 mg per 100 g · 415 mg per 200 calories
  16. 16
    Turkey heart
    Turkey, all classes, heart, cooked, simmered · 3 oz (85 g)
    305mg102% DV · 359 mg per 100 g · 413 mg per 200 calories
  17. 17
    Heart
    Heart · 1 cup (145 g)
    305mg102% DV · 210 mg per 100 g · 256 mg per 200 calories
  18. 18
    302mg101% DV · 355 mg per 100 g · 430 mg per 200 calories
  19. 19
    Shrimp cocktail
    Shrimp cocktail · 1 cup (250 g)
    298mg99% DV · 119 mg per 100 g · 240 mg per 200 calories
  20. 20
    Squid
    Mollusks, squid, mixed species, cooked, fried · 3 oz (85 g)
    221mg74% DV · 260 mg per 100 g · 297 mg per 200 calories
  21. 21
    Shrimp
    Crustaceans, shrimp, mixed species, canned · 3 oz (85 g)
    214mg71% DV · 252 mg per 100 g · 504 mg per 200 calories
  22. 22
    213mg71% DV · 388 mg per 100 g · 419 mg per 200 calories
  23. 23
    Beef
    Beef, New Zealand, imported, sweetbread, cooked, boiled · 3 oz (85 g)
    212mg71% DV · 249 mg per 100 g · 157 mg per 200 calories
  24. 24
    Sardine
    Fish, sardine, Atlantic, canned in oil, drained solids with bone · 1 cup, drained (149 g)
    212mg71% DV · 142 mg per 100 g · 137 mg per 200 calories
  25. 25
    Turkey
    Turkey, young hen, skin only, cooked, roasted · 0.5 turkey, skin only (196 g)
    208mg69% DV · 106 mg per 100 g · 44 mg per 200 calories
  26. 26
    Beef liver
    Beef, New Zealand, imported, variety meats and by-products liver, cooked, boiled · 3 oz (85 g)
    207mg69% DV · 243 mg per 100 g · 324 mg per 200 calories
  27. 27
    Huevos rancheros
    Huevos rancheros · 1 egg (118 g)
    207mg69% DV · 175 mg per 100 g · 289 mg per 200 calories
  28. 28
    Chicken breast
    Chicken, broiler or fryers, breast, skinless, boneless, meat only, cooked, braised · 1 piece (174 g)
    202mg67% DV · 116 mg per 100 g · 140 mg per 200 calories
  29. 29
    Cuttlefish
    Mollusks, cuttlefish, mixed species, cooked, moist heat · 3 oz (85 g)
    190mg63% DV · 224 mg per 100 g · 284 mg per 200 calories
  30. 30
    Eel
    Fish, eel · 1 cup (135 g)
    189mg63% DV · 140 mg per 100 g · 103 mg per 200 calories
  31. 31
    Shellfish
    Shellfish, NFS · 1 cup (135 g)
    189mg63% DV · 140 mg per 100 g · 192 mg per 200 calories
  32. 32
    Tripe
    Tripe · 1 cup (140 g)
    178mg59% DV · 127 mg per 100 g · 285 mg per 200 calories
  33. 33
    Turkey neck
    Turkey, neck · 1 cup, diced, cooked (135 g)
    171mg57% DV · 127 mg per 100 g · 158 mg per 200 calories
  34. 34
    Beef heart
    Beef, New Zealand, imported, variety meats and by-products, heart, cooked, boiled · 3 oz (85 g)
    171mg57% DV · 201 mg per 100 g · 225 mg per 200 calories
  35. 35
    Caviar
    Fish, caviar, black and red, granular · 1 oz (28 g)
    167mg56% DV · 588 mg per 100 g · 445 mg per 200 calories
  36. 36
    Dove, cooked (includes squab)
    1 cup, chopped or diced (140 g)
    162mg54% DV · 116 mg per 100 g · 109 mg per 200 calories
  37. 37
    Ground turkey
    Turkey, ground, 93% lean, 7% fat, pan-broiled crumbles · 1 paired cooked w crumbles (155 g)
    161mg54% DV · 104 mg per 100 g · 95 mg per 200 calories
  38. 38
    Spoonbread
    Spoonbread · 1 cup (187 g)
    161mg54% DV · 86 mg per 100 g · 104 mg per 200 calories
  39. 39
    Lamb heart
    Lamb, New Zealand, imported, heart, cooked, soaked and simmered · 3 oz (85 g)
    158mg53% DV · 186 mg per 100 g · 231 mg per 200 calories
  40. 40
    Chicken
    Chicken, broilers or fryers, light meat, meat and skin, cooked, fried, batter · 0.5 chicken, bone removed (188 g)
    158mg53% DV · 84 mg per 100 g · 61 mg per 200 calories
  41. 41
    Perch
    Fish, perch, steamed · 1 large fillet (135 g)
    154mg51% DV · 114 mg per 100 g · 198 mg per 200 calories
  42. 42
    Turkey whole
    Turkey, whole, skin (light and dark), roasted · 3 oz (85 g)
    150mg50% DV · 177 mg per 100 g · 77 mg per 200 calories
  43. 43
    Mackerel
    Fish, mackerel, jack, canned, drained solids · 1 cup (190 g)
    150mg50% DV · 79 mg per 100 g · 101 mg per 200 calories
  44. 44
    Eggnog
    Eggnog · 1 cup (254 g)
    150mg50% DV · 59 mg per 100 g · 134 mg per 200 calories
  45. 45
    Cornish game hen
    Cornish game hen, cooked, skin not eaten · 1 cup, cooked, diced (140 g)
    147mg49% DV · 105 mg per 100 g · 158 mg per 200 calories
  46. 46
    Chicken leg
    Chicken, broilers or fryers, leg, meat and skin, cooked, fried, batter · 1 leg, bone removed (158 g)
    142mg47% DV · 90 mg per 100 g · 66 mg per 200 calories
  47. 47
    Pork loin
    Pork, fresh, loin, country-style ribs, separable lean only, bone-in, cooked, roasted · 1 rack (138 g)
    137mg46% DV · 99 mg per 100 g · 87 mg per 200 calories
  48. 48
    Veal shoulder
    Veal, shoulder, blade, separable lean only, cooked, braised · 3 oz (85 g)
    134mg45% DV · 158 mg per 100 g · 160 mg per 200 calories
  49. 49
    Chicken drumstick
    Chicken, broiler, rotisserie, BBQ, drumstick, meat only · 3 oz (85 g)
    132mg44% DV · 155 mg per 100 g · 180 mg per 200 calories
  50. 50
    Chicken wing
    Chicken, wing, frozen, glazed, barbecue flavored, heated (conventional oven) · 1 serving (96 g)
    131mg44% DV · 136 mg per 100 g · 112 mg per 200 calories

Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, Foundation, Survey), April 30, 2026 release; typical portions are USDA's NLEA servings or the household measure nearest FDA's reference amount; Daily Value: 21 CFR 101.9.

Per 100 g, the list starts elsewhere

The portion ranking compares everyday foods at the portion FDA's reference amounts describe (USDA's NLEA serving where it lists one). Seasonings, sauces, powders, dried and concentrated forms, raw meat and fish, uncooked grains and dry beans, restaurant items and foods without a household measure near that portion are ranked per 100 g only: nobody eats a cup of dried thyme. Per 100 g, these lead:

FoodCholesterol per 100 gIn the portion ranking
Brains3,075 mgranked 1
Lamb, New Zealand, imported, brains, cooked, soaked and fried2,559 mgranked 2
Egg, turkey, whole, fresh, raw933 mgranked 4
Quail egg, canned841 mgnot an everyday portion (rule above)
Duck egg, cooked828 mgranked 5
Goose egg, cooked799 mgranked 3
Fish oil, herring766 mgnot an everyday portion (rule above)
Kidney710 mgnot an everyday portion (rule above)

Source: USDA FoodData Central, April 30, 2026 release.

Cholesterol: the Daily Value and where it comes from

Download: this list as CSV (CC BY 4.0).

Sources for this page
USDA FoodData Central
the food and product records, April 30, 2026 release. fdc.nal.usda.gov
USDA Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies
the survey foods and their portions. ars.usda.gov
21 CFR 101.9, Nutrition labeling of food
the label format, rounding and Daily Values. ecfr.gov
21 CFR 101.12, Reference amounts customarily consumed
the serving each kind of food is labeled by. ecfr.gov
FDA, Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels
the Daily Values in a table. fda.gov