The short answer
Yes. One portion of blood sausage (2 thick slices) gives about 17.5 mg of iron, 97% of the 18 mg a day women aged 19 to 50 need. On a US food label, a serving with 20% of the daily value counts as high. Much of it is heme iron, the kind your body takes in most easily.
- mg17.5In one portion: 2 thick slices
- %97Of the 18 mg a day women aged 19 to 50 need
- mg17.5Per 100 g, as eaten
Worth knowingAbout 17 mg per 100 g in Swedish blood pudding, one of the richest iron foods there is. Recipes vary, so yours may have less.
How it compares
Iron per portion, next to other foods on the meat shelf.
What helps its iron in
Heme iron
Iron from meat and fish gets in well, and more when your stores are low. Calcium still holds some of it back.
Hallberg L, Hultén L, Gramatkovski E (1997), Am J Clin Nutr. Over five days of a whole diet, blood donors with ferritin around 37 µg/L absorbed 35% of the heme iron, men with fuller stores 23%.
Recipes with blood sausage
All recipes
Questions
How much iron is in blood sausage?
About 17.5 mg per 100 g, so 2 thick slices (100 g) gives about 17.5 mg. The number is from the Swedish Food Agency's database: Blodpudding blodkorv stekt fett 8%.
Is the iron in blood sausage easy to absorb?
Yes, as food iron goes. Heme iron gets in by its own route, and more of it when your stores are low. Calcium is the one thing on the plate that still holds some of it back.
What should I eat with blood sausage for iron?
A vitamin C helper, such as lemon, red pepper, tomato or parsley, for the plant iron on the same plate, and water to drink rather than tea, coffee or milk.
Sources
- Swedish Food Agency, food database: Blodpudding blodkorv stekt fett 8%
- Hallberg L, Hultén L, Gramatkovski E. Iron absorption from the whole diet in men: how effective is the regulation of iron absorption?. Am J Clin Nutr, 1997
- Hurrell R, Egli I. Iron bioavailability and dietary reference values. Am J Clin Nutr, 2010
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Iron: fact sheet for health professionals
- US Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 101.54: nutrient content claims for "good source" and "high"
Iron is from food tables, for the food as eaten, and real foods vary with the cut, the brand and the recipe. Your body takes in a share of it, and a larger share when your stores are low.
Educational, not medical advice. ferritin.ai does not diagnose or treat any condition. Talk to your doctor about your own results.