Skip to main content

Foods high in copper

Copper is a mineral that helps the body use iron and maintain normal connective tissues and nervous system function. Calf and lamb liver lead this list, with raw and cooked forms included. Other foods near the top include dried mushrooms, raw oysters, boiled whelks and dried, salted herring.

The list ranks foods by their copper content per 100g, rather than by the amount usually eaten. Typical portion sizes therefore matter when comparing how much copper different foods provide. Preparation also matters: raw, fried, dried and salted foods can differ in their nutrient content, including fat and salt. Full figures are provided in the tables below.

Further reading and references

  • Public Health England. McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods Integrated Dataset 2021. GOV.UK.

Article history

The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
  • 3 Nov 2026 | Latest version
  • 3 Nov 2026 | Originally published