All nutrients

Cholesterol

A waxy substance found only in animal products. The body makes most of its own cholesterol in the liver, and it is needed to build cell membranes and certain hormones.

Sources: MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)

Best food sources of cholesterol

Richest foods in each food group, per 100 g. Some foods, such as dried herbs, spices and oils, are eaten in far smaller amounts than 100 g, so a high rank does not always mean a meaningful contribution to a meal.

meat, egg and fish571 foods measured

  1. 1Brain, calf, cooked3100 mg
  2. 2Brain, pork, braised2430 mg
  3. 3Egg yolk, powder2320 mg
  4. 4Brain, pork, raw2200 mg
  5. 5Brain, lamb, cooked2040 mg
  6. 6Egg, powder1670 mg
  7. 7Brain, calf, raw1590 mg
  8. 8Brain, lamb, raw1350 mg

fats and oils36 foods measured

  1. 1Herring oil766 mg
  2. 2Sardine oil710 mg
  3. 3Cod liver oil510 mg
  4. 4Salmon oil485 mg
  5. 5Butter oil or concentrated butter256 mg
  6. 6Butter, 80% fat, salted245 mg
  7. 7Butter, 82% fat, unsalted218 mg
  8. 8Butter, 80% fat, lightly salted218 mg

milk and milk products204 foods measured

  1. 1Caramelized custard cream (crème brûlée), refrigerated193 mg
  2. 2Picodon cheese, from goat's milk137 mg
  3. 3Crottin cheese, from goat's milk, from raw milk133 mg
  4. 4Liquid cream 30% fat, UHT125 mg
  5. 5Pastry cream or custard123 mg
  6. 6Mascarpone cheese, from cow's milk123 mg
  7. 7Soft-ripened cheese, triple cream, around 40% fat122 mg
  8. 8Sainte Maure cheese, from goat's milk122 mg

sugar and confectionery125 foods measured

  1. 1Chou pastry, sugar coated191 mg
  2. 2Pound cake178 mg
  3. 3Butter pound cake, prepacked164 mg
  4. 4Madeleine cake, pure butter, prepacked163 mg
  5. 5Chocolate soft cake, prepacked127 mg
  6. 6Chou pastry filled with whipped cream122 mg
  7. 7Lemon tart121 mg
  8. 8Chocolate cake110 mg

cereal products29 foods measured

  1. 1Gnocchi, from potato, cooked129 mg
  2. 2Dried egg pasta, raw84 mg
  3. 3Fresh egg pasta, raw48.6 mg
  4. 4Brioche sandwich bread, prepacked38.2 mg
  5. 5Salty snacks, made from potato37.7 mg
  6. 6Dried egg pasta, cooked, unsalted34.3 mg
  7. 7Salted crispy crepe with cheese, prepacked33.6 mg
  8. 8Blinis24.7 mg

ice cream and sorbet14 foods measured

  1. 1Profiteroles (chou pastry), with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce115 mg
  2. 2Ice cream, luxury, in cup73 mg
  3. 3baked Alaska52.5 mg
  4. 4Ice cream, in box39.3 mg
  5. 5Ice cream, box or cup (average)39.3 mg
  6. 6Frozen dessert, ice cream with meringue, vacherin ice cream or mystery ice cream type27.7 mg
  7. 7Iced nougat22.7 mg
  8. 8Ice cream on stick, with chocolate coating17.5 mg

Other6 foods measured

  1. 1Shortbread dough, pure butter, cooked91.5 mg
  2. 2Desert (average)56.7 mg
  3. 3Puff pastry, raw15 mg
  4. 4Puff pastry, cooked4.7 mg
  5. 5Shortbread dough, cooked1.37 mg
  6. 6Pastry, short crust, baked0.5 mg

miscellaneous42 foods measured

  1. 1Mayonnaise (70% fat and more), prepacked70 mg
  2. 2Hollandaise sauce, prepacked56.7 mg
  3. 3Sauce, butter, prepacked51.4 mg
  4. 4Bearnaise sauce, prepacked48.9 mg
  5. 5Mustard sauce prepacked40.8 mg
  6. 6Mayonnaise, reduced fat or light mayonnaise, prepacked38 mg
  7. 7Tartare sauce, prepacked35.1 mg
  8. 8Burgundy-style sauce, prepacked32 mg

fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts20 foods measured

  1. 1Dauphine potato, frozen, cooked51.7 mg
  2. 2Rostis or Potatoes cake15 mg
  3. 3Mix of unsalted grains/nuts and raisins12 mg
  4. 4Vegetables (3-4 types), mashed9 mg
  5. 5Potato puree, made from flakes, reconstituted with whole milk, with added fat6.67 mg
  6. 6Potato puree, with milk and butter, unsalted6.5 mg
  7. 7Carrots, puree with cream5.54 mg
  8. 8Mashed potatoes (average)4.9 mg

beverages7 foods measured

  1. 1Chocolate flavoured milk, with sugar, partially skimmed, fortified with vitamins and chemicals elements7.5 mg
  2. 2Instant cocoa or chocolate beverage, with sugar, ready-to-drink (reconstituted with standard semi-skimmed milk)7 mg
  3. 3Mix of chicory and coffee, instant, without sugar, ready-to-drink (reconstituted with standard semi-skimmed milk)4.4 mg
  4. 4Strawberry flavoured milk, with sugar, partially skimmed, fortified with vitamins D2.7 mg
  5. 5Coffee with milk or white coffee or cappuccino, instant coffee or not, without sugar, ready-to-drink2.5 mg
  6. 6Malted cocoa or chocolate powder for beverage, with sugar1 mg
  7. 7Non-alcoholic beverage (average)0.06 mg

Values per 100 g from CIQUAL. Percentages are shares of the adult daily reference intake (EU Regulation 1169/2011, fiber from EFSA). Foods whose value is below the detection limit or reported as traces are not ranked, since the amount is unknown rather than zero.