sodium citrate
Additives & Leavening
Is sodium citrate high in sulfites?
Is sodium citrate 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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Compare sodium citrate across criteria
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 sodium citrate contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where sodium citrate fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about sodium citrate
Sodium citrate (E331) does two jobs: it buffers acidity in soft drinks, electrolyte powders and jams, and it is the emulsifying salt that makes processed cheese slices and cheese sauce melt smooth instead of splitting. Despite the name it has nothing to do with citrus fruit protein or citrus peel salicylates, so a citrus reaction does not predict a citrate reaction. Where it earns a place in a trigger journal is as a marker: the foods that need an emulsifying salt are usually the same processed cheese and soft drinks that carry the triggers people actually react to.
Watch for
- In processed cheese and cheese sauce the citrate is the least likely culprit in the tub.Lactose, casein and the histamine of an aged cheese base all sit in the same product and all have far stronger evidence behind them
- Manufactured citric acid and its citrate salts are fermented on Aspergillus niger rather than squeezed from lemons.A 2018 report described four people with inflammatory symptoms they attributed to the manufactured version, which is a hypothesis worth knowing about and nowhere near enough to call it a common trigger
- It is a sodium salt, so it quietly adds to the sodium in packaged food.That is the reason it is only borderline on DASH rather than clean
- Not a flavour enhancer.Sodium citrate is regularly mistaken for monosodium glutamate because of the name, but it carries no added free glutamate and no umami effect
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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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Get the AppFAQ
Is sodium citrate high in Sulfites?
Sulfites: moderate signal - portion size matters.
Can I still eat sodium citrate if I'm sensitive to Sulfites?
Try smaller portions and space it out.
What else should I check?
Check AIP, Salicylates, and Oxalates next for a fuller picture.