cranberry sauce
Condiments & Sauces
Is cranberry sauce high in nitrites?
Find out whether cranberry sauce is high or low in nitrites, see its exact rating, and check its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility all in one place.
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Sensitivity notes
Why nitrites food checker matters
Nitrites are preservatives commonly used in cured meats. Some people are sensitive to them, experiencing headaches, flushing, or other symptoms after consumption.
- Choose uncured or 'no nitrates/nitrites added' meat products
- Note that 'natural' nitrites from celery powder act the same way
- Fresh meat is nitrite-free
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
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Nitrites Guide
Everything you need to know about nitrites sensitivity and smart food choices.
Nitrites are preservatives commonly used in cured meats. Some people are sensitive to them, experiencing headaches, flushing, or other symptoms after consumption.
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 Nitrites sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in nitrites and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to Nitrites, consider these strategies:
- 1Choose uncured or 'no nitrates/nitrites added' meat products
- 2Note that 'natural' nitrites from celery powder act the same way
- 3Fresh meat is nitrite-free
- 4Bacon, hot dogs, and deli meats are common sources
- 5Vegetables like celery and beets contain natural nitrates
Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.
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Get the AppFAQ
Is cranberry sauce high in Nitrites?
Nitrites: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat cranberry sauce if I'm sensitive to Nitrites?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check DASH Diet, FODMAPs, and Fructose next for a fuller picture.