sole
Seafood
Is sole high in glutamates?
Is sole high or low in glutamates? See its exact rating, how much counts as a portion, and its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility in one place.
Related checkers
Compare sole 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
- Yeast extract and hydrolyzed proteins contain glutamates
- Fresh, unprocessed foods are generally lower
Sensitivities
What sole contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where sole fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about sole
Sole is a delicate flatfish that is very often not sole. In the United States most supermarket sole is a flounder: petrale sole, grey sole and Pacific Dover sole all are. In Britain, lemon sole is a dab. Only the European Dover sole is a true sole. For a trigger journal that matters, because our flounder entry and this one frequently describe the same animal wearing two labels, and a duplicate log looks like an inconsistent reaction. On chemistry, sole sits borderline rather than clean across a spread of columns: B for histamine, tyramine, sulfites and free glutamate, C for salicylates and oxalates. Nothing is high. The bigger variable is what sole is cooked in, because the classic preparations bury a very mild fish under flour, butter, wine, capers and lemon.
Watch for
- Check for a duplicate entry.If flounder is already in your log, sole may be the same fish under a market name. Petrale, grey and US Dover sole are flounders and lemon sole is a dab, so "I react to sole but not flounder" is often a labelling artefact
- Graded B for histamine and B for tyramine.Low but not zero, which makes a slowly thawed or day old fillet a more plausible trigger than a fresh one
- Sole meunière and sole bonne femme are flour, butter, cream and white wine.The fish grades A for gluten and A for dairy protein. The dish is neither, and white wine grades E for sulfites and D for histamine
- The standard finish is brown butter with capers and lemon, and both are heavier triggers than the fish: capers grade C for histamine and C for sulfites, lemon is a D histamine liberator.Test sole plainly grilled before you write it off
- The borderline (B) sulfite grade tracks treated and glazed frozen fillets rather than fresh fish, so check the ingredient line on a frozen packet
Explore related in Seafood
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 sole high in Glutamates?
Glutamates: moderate signal - portion size matters.
Can I still eat sole if I'm sensitive to Glutamates?
Try smaller portions and space it out.
What else should I check?
Check Fish, Vegan, and Vegetarian next for a fuller picture.