A cheese for kidney patients

Most people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are told to limit protein and phosphorus — and regular cheese is high in both. Fikra slices give back the cheese you miss, with zero protein and very little phosphorus.

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Why Fikra fits

Zero protein (0 g per 100 g) — it does not use up your daily protein allowance.
Very low phosphorus: 0.04–0.14%, compared with 0.34–0.88% in dairy cheese. Its phosphorus comes from a modified starch (E1414) that the body absorbs poorly (about 40%).
Low in potassium compared with regular cheese, and free from milk, lactose and cholesterol.
Melts like real cheese — for toast, manakish, pizza and baked dishes.

−32%

What the research says

A Cochrane review of randomised trials in people with chronic kidney disease found that a low-protein diet reduced the risk of renal death — reaching kidney failure or needing dialysis — by about 32%. A zero-protein cheese makes that diet easier to follow without giving up the foods you love.

Fouque D, Laville M. Low protein diets for chronic kidney disease in non-diabetic adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2009.

The phosphorus pyramid

Where Fikra sits — at the very bottom

Kidney dietitians use this pyramid to rank foods by phosphorus. Regular cheese sits near the top. Fikra is a protein-free food, so it belongs in the base — foods you can enjoy freely.

Avoid Phosphate additivesCola, processed cheese, nuggets & processed meat, instant drinks
Rarely Hard cheeses, nuts, egg yolkCheddar, parmesan, emmental, almonds Regular cheese
Occasionally Offal, shellfish, soft cheesesLiver, sausages, shrimp, salmon, mozzarella, cream cheese
A few times a week Meat, poultry, fish, milkLamb, chicken, tuna, cod, milk, yogurt
Daily, in portions Cereals & legumesBread, rice, pasta, beans, lentils
Freely Lowest phosphorusEgg white, fruit & vegetables, olive oil, protein-free foods Fikra

Tip: Boiling vegetables, meat and pasta and discarding the water lowers their phosphorus and potassium. Dialysis patients should still limit fruit and vegetables high in potassium.

Adapted from D’Alessandro C, et al. “The phosphorus pyramid”: a visual tool for dietary phosphate management in dialysis and CKD patients. BMC Nephrology 2015;16:9.

Fikra vs regular cheese (per 100 g)

Cheese	Protein	Phosphorus	Lactose
Fikra plant-based slices	0 g	0.04–0.14%	None
Cheddar	22.9 g	0.46%	Yes
Mozzarella	23.8 g	0.55%	Yes
Feta	14.2 g	0.34%	Yes
Gouda	24.9 g	0.55%	Yes
Processed cheese slices	16.4 g	0.88%	Yes

Dairy cheese: USDA FoodData Central. Fikra: manufacturer data — its phosphorus comes from a modified starch (E1414) with low bioavailability (about 40%).

Practical tips

Low-protein diets in CKD are usually around 0.6 g protein per kg of body weight a day — your nephrologist or renal dietitian sets your exact target.
Keep total energy up (about 30–35 kcal per kg a day) so your body does not break down its own protein.
Choose white bread and rice over whole-grain — they are lower in phosphorus.
Fikra replaces cheese; it is a food, not a medicine. Keep your regular blood tests and follow-ups.

Common questions

Can kidney patients eat cheese?

Regular cheese is high in protein (14–25 g per 100 g) and phosphorus, so most renal diets limit it. Fikra plant-based slices have zero protein and very low phosphorus, so many kidney patients use them in place of dairy cheese.

Is Fikra suitable for dialysis patients?

Fikra has no protein and very little phosphorus. Dialysis patients often need more protein, so ask your renal dietitian how Fikra fits your plan.

Fikra is a food, not a medicine. This page is general information — please follow the advice of your doctor or dietitian.

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