Back to Salicylates food checker
tomato sauce
Condiments & Sauces
Is tomato sauce high in salicylates?
Is tomato sauce high or low in salicylates? See its exact rating, how much counts as a portion, and its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility in one place.
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Sensitivity notes
Why salicylates food checker matters
Salicylates are natural chemicals found in many fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. They're related to aspirin and can cause reactions in sensitive individuals including hives, asthma symptoms, nasal congestion, and digestive issues.
- Start by eliminating the highest sources: spices, herbs, and concentrated products
- Peel fruits and vegetables when possible to reduce salicylate content
- Fresh is usually better tolerated than dried or concentrated
- Build up tolerance slowly by reintroducing foods one at a time
- Sensitivity often improves with gut healing over time
Sensitivities
What tomato sauce contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where tomato sauce fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about tomato sauce
Tomato sauce is one of the most concentrated food triggers in an ordinary kitchen. Simmering and reducing tomatoes stacks histamine, salicylates, oxalate, free glutamate and nightshade compounds into every spoonful. It grades high in histamine, so it is a frequent reason people flush, get a headache or a runny nose during an Italian meal, and it is also high in oxalate and a nightshade.
Watch for
- High in histamine, and reducing tomatoes down to a sauce pushes it higher, so marinara often bothers people more than a fresh raw tomato does
- High in salicylates and a moderate histamine liberator, a double hit if you are aspirin-sensitive or histamine-intolerant
- High in oxalate, which matters on a kidney-stone (calcium oxalate) diet
- A nightshade with high free glutamate, so it can flare both nightshade sensitivity and umami/glutamate reactions
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Salicylates Guide
Everything you need to know about salicylates sensitivity and smart food choices.
Salicylates are natural chemicals found in many fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. They're related to aspirin and can cause reactions in sensitive individuals including hives, asthma symptoms, nasal congestion, and digestive issues.
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 Salicylates sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in salicylates and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to Salicylates, consider these strategies:
- 1Start by eliminating the highest sources: spices, herbs, and concentrated products
- 2Peel fruits and vegetables when possible to reduce salicylate content
- 3Fresh is usually better tolerated than dried or concentrated
- 4Build up tolerance slowly by reintroducing foods one at a time
- 5Sensitivity often improves with gut healing over time
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 tomato sauce high in Salicylates?
Salicylates: higher signal - consider smaller servings or swaps.
Can I still eat tomato sauce if I'm sensitive to Salicylates?
Best to avoid or test carefully with a small amount.
What else should I check?
Check Histamine, Nightshades, and Oxalates next for a fuller picture.