saffron
Herbs & Spices
Trigger checker for saffron
See saffron rated across every trigger — FODMAP, histamine, salicylate, oxalate, tyramine and more — plus diet compatibility, all in one quick ingredient profile.
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Serving size, prep, and portion notes for saffron
Saffron is the hand-picked stigma of the Crocus sativus flower, roughly 150 flowers to the gram, which is why it is the most expensive spice on earth by weight. As a trigger it is unusually quiet: low FODMAP across all four subgroups, low in histamine, no gluten, no lactose, no nickel, no sulfites and no tyramine. The only grades worth reading are a moderate C on salicylates plus mild B marks for histamine liberation, oxalate and free glutamate, and since a recipe pinch is a fraction of a gram, even those land small. The practical risk with saffron is almost never the spice itself. It is what has been mixed into it: safflower and marigold petals, turmeric powder, beet fibre and dyed silk threads are all documented adulterants, and any of those can carry triggers that real saffron does not.
Watch for
Adulteration is the real story. Powdered saffron is routinely cut with turmeric, safflower or paprika, and turmeric is graded a high D on salicylates where saffron is only a moderate C. If cheap saffron bothers you and whole threads do not, suspect the filler rather than the crocus / Moderate salicylate (C), so it is not a zero for salicylate-sensitive eaters, but a culinary pinch under half a gram is a very different exposure from a supplement capsule / Mild histamine liberator (B) while the spice itself is low in histamine (A), so it is a reasonable seasoning on a histamine-restricted plate rather than something to avoid / Dose separates food from medicine here. Culinary amounts sit far below any concern, while ingestion at gram scale (around 5 g and above) has been linked to serious adverse effects and is not a food-level exposure at all / Mild free glutamate (B) contributes to its savoury depth, which is worth noting only if you are tracking glutamate-driven headaches
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FAQ
What does the FODMAP rating mean for saffron?
Low FODMAP: usually easier for most people, still watch portion size.
Is saffron generally well tolerated?
Salicylates (Moderate) and Histamine Liberators (Low) Start with those if you react.
What should I check next?
Compare within the Herbs & Spices group.