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Tips for People with Ch

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National Kidney Disease

Education Program

If you have CKD, you may need to limit some nutrients in your diet such as sodium, 

phosphorus, or potassium. You should limit saturated and trans fats, too. Read the food 

label to help make healthy food choices for your kidneys. 

■ Check the Nutrition Facts label for sodium. 

■ Check the ingredient list for added phosphorus and potassium.

■ Look for claims on the label, like “low saturated fat” or “sodium free.” 

What Should I Look for on the Nutrition Facts Label? 

Look for sodium on the Nutrition Facts label. Some Nutrition Facts labels will list 

phosphorus and potassium, too, but they do not have to. 

Vitamin C 2%

Iron 4%

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 cup (228g)

Servings Per Container: 2

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 260 Calories from Fat: 120

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 13g 20 %

 Saturated Fat 5g 25 %

 Trans Fat 2g 

Cholesterol 30mg 10 %

Sodium 660mg 28 %

Total Carbohydrate 31g 10%

 Dietary Fiber 0g 0 %

 Sugars 5g 

Protein 5g

Vitamin A 4% • 

Calcium 15% •

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 

 calorie diet.

The amount listed is 

for one 1-cup serving. 

If you eat two servings, 

the amount doubles.

One serving has 

660 milligrams 

of sodium. 

This package has two 

1-cup servings.

One serving has 28% 

Daily Value of sodium.

■ 5% or less is low.

■ 20% or more 

is high.

For this food label, 

28% Daily Value is 

high for sodium.

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How to Read a Food Label 

What Should I Look for on the Ingredient List? 

1. Look for phosphorus, or for words with PHOS, on the ingredient list. Many packaged 

foods have phosphorus. Choose a different food when the ingredient list has PHOS 

on the label. 

Ingredients: Rehydrated potatoes (Water, Potatoes, Sodium acid pyrophosphate),

Beef (Beef, Water, Salt, Sodium phosphate), Wine...

This ingredient list shows that the food has added phosphorus.

2. Look for potassium on the ingredient list. For example, potassium chloride can be used 

in place of salt in some packaged foods, like canned soups and tomato products. 

Limit foods with potassium on the ingredient list. 

Ingredients: T omato juice, Vegetable juice blend, Potassium chloride, Sugar, Magnesium, 

Salt, Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid), Citric acid, Spice extract, Flavoring, 

Disodium inosinate, Disodium guanylate. 

This ingredient list shows that the food has added potassium. 

Did You Know? Ingredients are listed in order of the amount in the food. The food has 

the most of the first ingredient on the list, and the least of the last ingredient on the list.

Look for Claims on Food Packages to Help You Find Foods:

Lower in Saturated/Trans Fat Lower in Sodium*

l Saturated fat free l Sodium free 

l Low saturated fat l Very low sodium 

l Less saturated fat l Low sodium 

l Trans fat free l Reduced salt

* Sodium chloride (salt) is replaced in some foods with potassium chloride. If you need to watch your 

potassium, check the ingredient list. 

The National Kidney Disease Education Program 

(NKDEP) encourages people to get tested for kidney 

disease and educates those with kidney disease and 

their providers about treatments that can help delay 

or prevent kidney failure. NKDEP is a program of 

the National Institutes of Health. 

NIH Publication No. 10-7407 • June 2010

For more information, visit www.nkdep.nih.gov or call 1-866-4 KIDNEY (1-866-454-3639). 

U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services

National Institutes of Health National Kidney Disease

Education Program

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