rum
Beverages
Is rum high in sulfites?
Is rum high or low in sulfites? 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 sulfites food checker matters
Sulfites are preservatives found in wine, dried fruits, and processed foods. They can trigger asthma symptoms, headaches, and allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
- Dried fruits are often high in sulfites unless labeled 'unsulfured'
- Wine, especially white, commonly contains sulfites
- Fresh foods are naturally sulfite-free
- Check medication labels - some contain sulfites
- Look for 'contains sulfites' on labels (required above 10ppm)
Sensitivities
What rum contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where rum fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about rum
Rum is distilled from molasses or fresh cane juice, so it starts out grain free and comes off the still clean: our grades put it at A for gluten and A across every FODMAP column, and at B for sulfites even though the molasses it is made from grades sulfite D. The interesting part of rum is what happens after the still, not during it. White rum is close to a neutral spirit, while dark, aged and spiced rums get sugar, caramel colouring (E150) and whole spice blends added back in, plus cask congeners from ageing. Those additions are things distillation had already removed. Rum grades C for histamine, B for tyramine, B for salicylates and D for low fermentation SIBO, and like any spirit the ethanol itself slows DAO, the enzyme that clears dietary histamine.
Watch for
- Spiced and dark rums are the ones to log carefully: sweetened rums can carry tens of grams of added sugar per litre, and the spice blends lean on cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, which grade salicylate D in our data even though the spirit itself is only B
- Caramel colouring is standard in dark rum and is added purely for colour, so a bottle that looks aged may simply be tinted rather than long matured
- Histamine grades C, and the alcohol blocks the DAO enzyme, so a rum can hit harder than its own histamine number suggests if you already ate something histamine rich
- Low fermentation SIBO grades D and anti inflammatory grades E, which is the usual alcohol penalty rather than anything specific to cane spirit
- The mixer often outweighs the rum.Lime is a histamine liberator at grade D in our data, and cola or fruit juice adds a fructose load the spirit does not have
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Sulfites Guide
Everything you need to know about sulfites sensitivity and smart food choices.
Sulfites are preservatives found in wine, dried fruits, and processed foods. They can trigger asthma symptoms, headaches, and allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
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 Sulfites sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in sulfites and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to Sulfites, consider these strategies:
- 1Dried fruits are often high in sulfites unless labeled 'unsulfured'
- 2Wine, especially white, commonly contains sulfites
- 3Fresh foods are naturally sulfite-free
- 4Check medication labels - some contain sulfites
- 5Look for 'contains sulfites' on labels (required above 10ppm)
Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.
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Download Triggerbites to log meals, track symptoms, and discover your unique triggers.
Get the AppFAQ
Is rum high in Sulfites?
Sulfites: moderate signal - portion size matters.
Can I still eat rum if I'm sensitive to Sulfites?
Try smaller portions and space it out.
What else should I check?
Check Alcohol, AIP, and Reflux Diet next for a fuller picture.