cranberry sauce
Condiments & Sauces
Is cranberry sauce high in glutamates?
Find out whether cranberry sauce is high or low in glutamates, see its exact rating, and check its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility all in one place.
Related checkers
Compare cranberry sauce across criteria
Sensitivity notes
Why glutamates food checker matters
Glutamates, including MSG, are flavor enhancers found naturally in many foods and added to others. Some people report sensitivity causing headaches, flushing, or other symptoms, though research on 'MSG syndrome' is mixed.
- MSG goes by many names - look for 'glutamate' on labels
- Naturally high in soy sauce, fish sauce, and aged cheeses
- Tomatoes and mushrooms are naturally high in glutamates
Triggers
Diets
Serving size, prep, and portion notes for cranberry sauce
Cranberry sauce is graded on the sugar, not the berry. A standard recipe is close to equal parts fruit and sweetener by weight, and that is why the sauce grades moderate for excess fructose and moderate for FODMAPs, borderline on the inflammatory scale and poor for DASH. Everything else on the holiday table is louder: cranberry sauce grades clean on gluten, lactose, dairy protein, histamine, tyramine, nickel and sulfites.
Watch for
Moderate for FODMAPs and excess fructose, and both grades come from the added sugar rather than the cranberries. A spoonful beside the roast is a genuinely different dose from the bowl people keep going back to / Jellied tinned versions are frequently sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, which grades high for fructose, high for FODMAPs and poor for fermentation in its own right. The tin you buy changes the answer / Poor fit for DASH and only middling for a Mediterranean pattern, on sugar content alone. This is a confection built on fruit rather than a fruit side dish / Clean across the classic food chemistry triggers, so at a Christmas or Thanksgiving table the cranberry sauce is rarely the culprit. Aged cheese, cured meat, stuffing and wine are the usual suspects
Explore related in Condiments & Sauces
Compare similar foods to build a personalized list of swaps that work for your system.
Glutamates Guide
Everything you need to know about glutamates sensitivity and smart food choices.
Glutamates, including MSG, are flavor enhancers found naturally in many foods and added to others. Some people report sensitivity causing headaches, flushing, or other symptoms, though research on 'MSG syndrome' is mixed.
Sensitivity varies widely. What triggers one person may be fine for another. Track your reactions to find your personal threshold.
These foods are generally well-tolerated for Glutamates sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in glutamates and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to Glutamates, consider these strategies:
- 1MSG goes by many names - look for 'glutamate' on labels
- 2Naturally high in soy sauce, fish sauce, and aged cheeses
- 3Tomatoes and mushrooms are naturally high in glutamates
- 4Yeast extract and hydrolyzed proteins contain glutamates
- 5Fresh, unprocessed foods are generally lower
Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.
Want personalized tracking?
Download Triggerbites to log meals, track symptoms, and discover your unique triggers.
Get the AppFAQ
Is cranberry sauce high in Glutamates?
Glutamates: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat cranberry sauce if I'm sensitive to Glutamates?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check DASH Diet, FODMAPs, and Fructose next for a fuller picture.