Food List

Vitamin B12 Foods

Vitamin B12 keeps your nerves and blood cells healthy and supports energy and brain function. It is found almost only in animal foods, which makes it a key nutrient to plan for if you eat little or no meat. This list ranks foods by B12 content.

Food Vitamin B12 Per 100 g Per serving
Clams Fish & seafood 49 mcg 86 kcal P 15 · C 3 · F 1 100 g (3.5 oz) 86 kcal · P 15 1 portion
Octopus Fish & seafood 20 mcg 82 kcal P 15 · C 2.2 · F 1 100 g (3.5 oz) 82 kcal · P 15 1 portion
Chicken liver Meat & poultry 16.6 mcg 119 kcal P 17 · C 0.7 · F 4.8 100 g (3.5 oz) 119 kcal · P 17 1 portion
Oysters Fish & seafood 16 mcg 81 kcal P 9 · C 5 · F 2.3 100 g (3.5 oz) 81 kcal · P 9 1 portion
Herring Fish & seafood 13.7 mcg 158 kcal P 18 · C 0 · F 9 120 g (4.2 oz) 190 kcal · P 21.6 1 fillet
Mussels Fish & seafood 12 mcg 86 kcal P 12 · C 3.7 · F 2.2 100 g (3.5 oz) 86 kcal · P 12 1 portion
Crab Fish & seafood 9.8 mcg 97 kcal P 19 · C 0 · F 1.5 100 g (3.5 oz) 97 kcal · P 19 1 portion
Tuna steak (fresh) Fish & seafood 9.4 mcg 144 kcal P 23 · C 0 · F 5 150 g (5.3 oz) 216 kcal · P 34.5 1 steak
Sardines (canned) Fish & seafood 8.9 mcg 208 kcal P 25 · C 0 · F 11 90 g (3.2 oz) 187 kcal · P 22.5 1 tin
Mackerel Fish & seafood 8.7 mcg 205 kcal P 19 · C 0 · F 14 120 g (4.2 oz) 246 kcal · P 22.8 1 fillet
Trout Fish & seafood 7.8 mcg 141 kcal P 20 · C 0 · F 6 130 g (4.6 oz) 183 kcal · P 26 1 fillet
Rabbit Meat & poultry 7.2 mcg 173 kcal P 33 · C 0 · F 3.5 120 g (4.2 oz) 208 kcal · P 39.6 1 portion
Sea bass Fish & seafood 3.8 mcg 97 kcal P 18 · C 0 · F 2 130 g (4.6 oz) 126 kcal · P 23.4 1 fillet
Smoked salmon Fish & seafood 3.3 mcg 117 kcal P 18 · C 0 · F 4.3 56 g (2 oz) 66 kcal · P 10.1 1 portion
Salmon Fish & seafood 3.2 mcg 208 kcal P 20 · C 0 · F 13 150 g (5.3 oz) 312 kcal · P 30 1 fillet
Pollock Fish & seafood 3.2 mcg 92 kcal P 20 · C 0 · F 1 130 g (4.6 oz) 120 kcal · P 26 1 fillet
Lamb (lean) Meat & poultry 2.6 mcg 206 kcal P 25 · C 0 · F 11 120 g (4.2 oz) 247 kcal · P 30 1 portion
Venison Meat & poultry 2.5 mcg 158 kcal P 30 · C 0 · F 3.2 120 g (4.2 oz) 190 kcal · P 36 1 portion
Lean ground beef (5% fat) Meat & poultry 2.4 mcg 137 kcal P 21 · C 0 · F 5 125 g (4.4 oz) 171 kcal · P 26.3 1 portion
Bison (lean) Meat & poultry 2.4 mcg 146 kcal P 28 · C 0 · F 3 125 g (4.4 oz) 183 kcal · P 35 1 portion
Mozzarella Eggs & dairy 2.3 mcg 280 kcal P 22 · C 2.2 · F 17 50 g (1.8 oz) 140 kcal · P 11 1 portion
Tuna (canned in water) Fish & seafood 2.2 mcg 116 kcal P 26 · C 0 · F 1 145 g (5.1 oz) 168 kcal · P 37.7 1 tin
Feta Eggs & dairy 1.7 mcg 264 kcal P 14 · C 4 · F 21 50 g (1.8 oz) 132 kcal · P 7 1 portion
Tilapia Fish & seafood 1.6 mcg 96 kcal P 20 · C 0 · F 1.7 130 g (4.6 oz) 125 kcal · P 26 1 fillet
Beef jerky Meat & poultry 1.6 mcg 410 kcal P 33 · C 11 · F 26 · Fib 1.8 28 g (1 oz) 115 kcal · P 9.2 1 portion
Lean beef (sirloin) Meat & poultry 1.5 mcg 183 kcal P 27 · C 0 · F 8 150 g (5.3 oz) 275 kcal · P 40.5 1 steak
Prawns / shrimp Fish & seafood 1.5 mcg 99 kcal P 24 · C 0.2 · F 0.3 100 g (3.5 oz) 99 kcal · P 24 1 portion
Scallops Fish & seafood 1.5 mcg 88 kcal P 17 · C 2.4 · F 0.8 100 g (3.5 oz) 88 kcal · P 17 1 portion
Halloumi Eggs & dairy 1.5 mcg 321 kcal P 22 · C 2.2 · F 25 60 g (2.1 oz) 193 kcal · P 13.2 1 portion
Edam cheese Eggs & dairy 1.5 mcg 357 kcal P 25 · C 1.4 · F 28 30 g (1.1 oz) 107 kcal · P 7.5 1 slice
Veal (lean) Meat & poultry 1.4 mcg 172 kcal P 31 · C 0 · F 5 120 g (4.2 oz) 206 kcal · P 37.2 1 portion
Squid Fish & seafood 1.3 mcg 92 kcal P 16 · C 3 · F 1.4 100 g (3.5 oz) 92 kcal · P 16 1 portion
Haddock Fish & seafood 1.2 mcg 90 kcal P 20 · C 0 · F 0.6 150 g (5.3 oz) 135 kcal · P 30 1 fillet
Halibut Fish & seafood 1.2 mcg 111 kcal P 23 · C 0 · F 2.3 150 g (5.3 oz) 167 kcal · P 34.5 1 fillet
Parmesan Eggs & dairy 1.2 mcg 392 kcal P 36 · C 3.2 · F 26 30 g (1.1 oz) 118 kcal · P 10.8 1 grated
Soy milk Legumes 1.2 mcg 54 kcal P 3.3 · C 6 · F 1.8 · Fib 0.6 240 g (8.5 oz) 130 kcal · P 7.9 1 glass
Cheddar cheese Eggs & dairy 1.1 mcg 402 kcal P 25 · C 1.3 · F 33 30 g (1.1 oz) 121 kcal · P 7.5 1 slice
Goat meat Meat & poultry 1.1 mcg 143 kcal P 27 · C 0 · F 3 120 g (4.2 oz) 172 kcal · P 32.4 1 portion
Whey protein powder Eggs & dairy 1 mcg 354 kcal P 80 · C 8 · F 6 30 g (1.1 oz) 106 kcal · P 24 1 scoop
Turkey mince (lean) Meat & poultry 0.9 mcg 150 kcal P 27 · C 0 · F 4 125 g (4.4 oz) 188 kcal · P 33.8 1 portion
Cod Fish & seafood 0.9 mcg 82 kcal P 18 · C 0 · F 0.7 150 g (5.3 oz) 123 kcal · P 27 1 fillet
Eggs Eggs & dairy 0.9 mcg 143 kcal P 13 · C 1.1 · F 9.5 100 g (3.5 oz) 143 kcal · P 13 1 2 large
Anchovies (canned) Fish & seafood 0.9 mcg 210 kcal P 29 · C 0 · F 10 45 g (1.6 oz) 95 kcal · P 13.1 1 portion
Pork loin chop Meat & poultry 0.6 mcg 209 kcal P 26 · C 0 · F 11 120 g (4.2 oz) 251 kcal · P 31.2 1 chop
Ham (lean) Meat & poultry 0.6 mcg 145 kcal P 21 · C 1.5 · F 6 80 g (2.8 oz) 116 kcal · P 16.8 1 slices
Greek yogurt (full-fat) Eggs & dairy 0.6 mcg 97 kcal P 9 · C 4 · F 5 200 g (7.1 oz) 194 kcal · P 18 1 tub
Skyr Eggs & dairy 0.6 mcg 63 kcal P 11 · C 4 · F 0.2 150 g (5.3 oz) 95 kcal · P 16.5 1 tub
Kombucha Eggs & dairy 0.6 mcg 14 kcal P 0 · C 3.5 · F 0 240 g (8.5 oz) 34 kcal · P 0 1 glass
Chicken thigh (skinless) Meat & poultry 0.5 mcg 209 kcal P 26 · C 0 · F 11 110 g (3.9 oz) 230 kcal · P 28.6 1 thigh
Pork tenderloin Meat & poultry 0.5 mcg 143 kcal P 26 · C 0 · F 4 120 g (4.2 oz) 172 kcal · P 31.2 1 fillet
Greek yogurt (0% fat) Eggs & dairy 0.5 mcg 59 kcal P 10 · C 3.6 · F 0.4 200 g (7.1 oz) 118 kcal · P 20 1 tub
Milk (semi-skimmed) Eggs & dairy 0.5 mcg 50 kcal P 3.4 · C 4.8 · F 1.8 250 g (8.8 oz) 125 kcal · P 8.5 1 glass
Quark Eggs & dairy 0.5 mcg 67 kcal P 12 · C 4 · F 0.2 150 g (5.3 oz) 101 kcal · P 18 1 portion
Oat milk (unsweetened) Eggs & dairy 0.5 mcg 43 kcal P 1.3 · C 6.7 · F 1.5 · Fib 0.8 240 g (8.5 oz) 103 kcal · P 3.1 1 cup
Almond milk (unsweetened) Eggs & dairy 0.5 mcg 15 kcal P 0.6 · C 0.6 · F 1.2 · Fib 0.3 240 g (8.5 oz) 36 kcal · P 1.4 1 cup
Soy milk (unsweetened) Eggs & dairy 0.5 mcg 43 kcal P 3.3 · C 1.8 · F 1.8 · Fib 0.6 240 g (8.5 oz) 103 kcal · P 7.9 1 cup

Clams, liver and oysters are exceptionally rich, followed by oily fish, red meat, dairy and eggs. B12 is found almost exclusively in animal foods, so vegans need fortified foods or a supplement to meet their needs reliably.

Frequently asked questions

What foods are highest in vitamin B12?

Clams and liver are the richest sources by far, followed by oysters, mussels, oily fish like mackerel and sardines, red meat, and dairy. Eggs provide smaller amounts. Most people who eat animal foods get enough easily.

How do vegans get vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is found almost only in animal foods, so vegans need fortified foods such as plant milks, nutritional yeast and breakfast cereals, or a B12 supplement. A supplement is the most reliable way to avoid deficiency on a fully plant-based diet.

What does vitamin B12 do?

B12 helps keep your nerves and red blood cells healthy, supports energy production and brain function, and works with folate to make DNA. A deficiency can cause tiredness, weakness and nerve problems over time.

Nutrition values are approximate, per 100 g, derived from the USDA FoodData Central database. Serving sizes are typical examples and will vary.

welanutria provides general information only and is not medical or dietary advice.