Low-Sodium Dairy Guide
16 items classified under standard Low-Sodium guidelines.
Low-Sodium classifies foods based on sodium content per serving. Of the 16 dairy evaluated, 1 is classified as Allowed, 15 as Limited, and 0 as Not Allowed.
Quick Reference
| Food | Status | Sodium (per 100g) |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | Allowed | 39mg |
| Brie | Limited | 629mg |
| Buttermilk | Limited | 105mg |
| Cheddar | Limited | 644mg |
| Cheese | Limited | 436mg |
| Cottage Cheese | Limited | 330mg |
| Feta | Limited | 1140mg |
| Goat Cheese | Limited | 392mg |
| Ice Cream | Limited | 129mg |
| Mac and Cheese | Limited | 460mg |
| Mozzarella | Limited | 743mg |
| Parmesan | Limited | 1150mg |
| Ricotta | Limited | 110mg |
| Swiss Cheese | Limited | 1625mg |
| Whipped Cream | Limited | 8mg |
| Yogurt | Limited | 60mg |
Classification Breakdown
1 Allowed — These dairy are naturally low in sodium. 15 Limited — These items have sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation.
About 70–75% of dietary sodium comes from packaged and restaurant food, not the salt shaker.
Allowed Dairy (1)
Milk
AllowedAt 39mg sodium per 100g, Milk falls into the Allowed category under Low-Sodium guidelines. This means it is naturally low in sodium. Among the 16 items in this category, milk sits at the low end for sodium — next closest is Yogurt at 60mg.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Milk | 60kcal | 3.3g | 3.2g | 4.6g | 38mg |
| 2% Milk | 50kcal | 3.3g | 2g | 4.8g | 47mg |
| Skim Milk | 35kcal | 3.4g | 0.2g | 4.9g | 52mg |
Limited Dairy (15)
Brie
LimitedAt 629mg sodium per 100g, Brie falls into the Limited category under Low-Sodium guidelines. It is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. Beyond the primary classification, brie also provides 20.8g protein and 27.7g fat per 100g. Within this category, it falls between Mac and Cheese and Cheddar for sodium, ranking 11 of 16. Check the label carefully: the same product can be compliant or not depending on the specific brand or how it was prepared.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Buttermilk
LimitedWith 105mg sodium per 100g, Buttermilk earns a Limited classification on Low-Sodium. This means it is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. Among the 16 items in this category, buttermilk sits at the low end for sodium — next closest is Ricotta at 110mg. The "Limited" label means the classification depends on specific conditions — portion size, brand formulation, or preparation method can shift it from compliant to non-compliant.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Cheddar
LimitedCheddar is classified as Limited on Low-Sodium, with 644mg sodium per 100g. The classification reflects that it is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. Nutritionally, it also delivers 24.2g protein and 33.8g fat per serving. Within this category, it falls between Brie and Mozzarella for sodium, ranking 12 of 16. The "Limited" label means the classification depends on specific conditions — portion size, brand formulation, or preparation method can shift it from compliant to non-compliant.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Cheese
LimitedWith 436mg sodium per 100g, Cheese earns a Limited classification on Low-Sodium. This means it is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. It also contains 7.1g protein and 28.6g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. Within this category, it falls between Goat Cheese and Mac and Cheese for sodium, ranking 9 of 16. The "Limited" label means the classification depends on specific conditions — portion size, brand formulation, or preparation method can shift it from compliant to non-compliant.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheddar | 409kcal | 23.3g | 34g | 2.4g | 654mg |
| Mozzarella | 299kcal | 22.2g | 22.1g | 2.4g | 486mg |
| Swiss | 393kcal | 27g | 31g | 1.4g | 185mg |
Cottage Cheese
LimitedAt 330mg sodium per 100g, Cottage Cheese falls into the Limited category under Low-Sodium guidelines. It is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. Beyond the primary classification, cottage cheese also provides 11g protein and 9.7g fat per 100g. Within this category, it falls between Ice Cream and Goat Cheese for sodium, ranking 7 of 16. The "Limited" label means the classification depends on specific conditions — portion size, brand formulation, or preparation method can shift it from compliant to non-compliant.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Fat (4%) | 103kcal | 11.6g | 4.2g | 4.6g | 350mg |
| Low-Fat (1%) | 72kcal | 12.4g | 1g | 2.7g | 406mg |
Feta
LimitedAt 1140mg sodium per 100g, Feta falls into the Limited category under Low-Sodium guidelines. It is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. Beyond the primary classification, feta also provides 14.2g protein and 21.5g fat per 100g. It ranks among the highest in this category for sodium. The nearest lower option is Mozzarella at 743mg. The "Limited" label means the classification depends on specific conditions — portion size, brand formulation, or preparation method can shift it from compliant to non-compliant.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Goat Cheese
LimitedWith 392mg sodium per 100g, Goat Cheese earns a Limited classification on Low-Sodium. It is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. Beyond the primary classification, goat cheese also provides 26.9g protein per 100g. Within this category, it falls between Cottage Cheese and Cheese for sodium, ranking 8 of 16. Portion control is key here — a small amount may fit within the diet's parameters, while a full serving may not.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Ice Cream
LimitedIce Cream is classified as Limited on Low-Sodium, with 129mg sodium per 100g. The classification reflects that it is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. Nutritionally, it also delivers 8.6g fat per serving. Within this category, it falls between Ricotta and Cottage Cheese for sodium, ranking 6 of 16. Portion control is key here — a small amount may fit within the diet's parameters, while a full serving may not.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Mac and Cheese
LimitedWith 460mg sodium per 100g, Mac and Cheese earns a Limited classification on Low-Sodium. This means it is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. It also contains 11.8g protein and 15g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. Within this category, it falls between Cheese and Brie for sodium, ranking 10 of 16. The "Limited" label means the classification depends on specific conditions — portion size, brand formulation, or preparation method can shift it from compliant to non-compliant.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Mozzarella
LimitedAt 743mg sodium per 100g, Mozzarella falls into the Limited category under Low-Sodium guidelines. It is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. Beyond the primary classification, mozzarella also provides 31.7g protein per 100g. It ranks among the highest in this category for sodium. The nearest lower option is Cheddar at 644mg. The "Limited" label means the classification depends on specific conditions — portion size, brand formulation, or preparation method can shift it from compliant to non-compliant.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Parmesan
LimitedWith 1150mg sodium per 100g, Parmesan earns a Limited classification on Low-Sodium. This means it is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. It also contains 40g protein, which may factor into overall meal planning. It ranks among the highest in this category for sodium. The nearest lower option is Feta at 1140mg. Portion control is key here — a small amount may fit within the diet's parameters, while a full serving may not.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Ricotta
LimitedRicotta is classified as Limited on Low-Sodium, with 110mg sodium per 100g. The classification reflects that it is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. Nutritionally, it also delivers 7.5g protein and 10.2g fat per serving. Within this category, it falls between Buttermilk and Ice Cream for sodium, ranking 5 of 16. Portion control is key here — a small amount may fit within the diet's parameters, while a full serving may not.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Swiss Cheese
LimitedWith 1625mg sodium per 100g, Swiss Cheese earns a Limited classification on Low-Sodium. It is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. Beyond the primary classification, swiss cheese also provides 16.4g protein and 21.2g fat per 100g. It ranks among the highest in this category for sodium. The nearest lower option is Parmesan at 1150mg. Check the label carefully: the same product can be compliant or not depending on the specific brand or how it was prepared.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Whipped Cream
LimitedWith 8mg sodium per 100g, Whipped Cream earns a Limited classification on Low-Sodium. It is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. Beyond the primary classification, whipped cream also provides 22.2g fat per 100g. Among the 16 items in this category, whipped cream sits at the low end for sodium — next closest is Milk at 39mg. The "Limited" label means the classification depends on specific conditions — portion size, brand formulation, or preparation method can shift it from compliant to non-compliant.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Yogurt
LimitedWith 60mg sodium per 100g, Yogurt earns a Limited classification on Low-Sodium. This means it is sodium content that varies enormously by brand or preparation. Among the 16 items in this category, yogurt sits at the low end for sodium — next closest is Buttermilk at 105mg. The "Limited" label means the classification depends on specific conditions — portion size, brand formulation, or preparation method can shift it from compliant to non-compliant.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plain Whole Milk Yogurt | 61kcal | 3.5g | 3.3g | 4.7g | 46mg |
| Plain Low-Fat Yogurt | 63kcal | 5.3g | 1.6g | 7g | 70mg |
| Plain Nonfat Yogurt | 56kcal | 5.7g | 0.2g | 7.7g | 77mg |