tomato
Vegetables
Is tomato high in sulfites?
Is tomato 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 tomato contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where tomato fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about tomato
Tomato is flagged on more independent axes than almost any other everyday vegetable, and the mechanisms are constantly mistaken for each other. It is a nightshade, our highest grade there, carrying the glycoalkaloids that concentrate in unripe green fruit, stems and leaves. Separately it is one of the richest natural sources of free glutamate, which is exactly why it tastes savoury and why it turns up in MSG-sensitivity reports. Separately again it grades high for histamine and high as a histamine liberator, and high for salicylates, with moderate oxalate and high lectin content in the seeds and skin. What it is not is a FODMAP problem: it rates only moderate there and clean on fructans, lactose, gluten, nickel and sulfites. And despite the nightshade reputation, tomato grades strongly anti-inflammatory, so nightshade avoidance is an individual sensitivity question rather than a general claim that tomato is inflammatory.
Watch for
- A nightshade at our highest grade, and not compliant with autoimmune protocol.The glycoalkaloids concentrate in unripe green fruit, stems and leaves, so under-ripe tomatoes carry more than fully red ones
- One of the highest natural free-glutamate foods there is.Reducing tomato into paste, passata or sun-dried pieces concentrates it further, which is why a rich sauce reads far more umami and MSG-like than a fresh slice
- High for histamine and a strong liberator on top of that.Cooked, tinned and jarred tomato products grade worse than fresh fruit, with tomato sauce reaching our top histamine grade
- High in salicylates, moderate in oxalate and high in lectins.The lectins sit in the seeds and skin, so deseeding and peeling reduce the load without removing it
- Only moderate on FODMAPs and clean on fructans, gluten, lactose, nickel and sulfites, so if tomato reliably bothers you the cause is nearly always one of the nightshade, histamine, glutamate or salicylate routes rather than fermentation
- Rates strongly anti-inflammatory in its own right, largely from lycopene, so a nightshade reaction is a personal sensitivity rather than evidence that tomato is an inflammatory food
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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.
Want personalized tracking?
Download Triggerbites to log meals, track symptoms, and discover your unique triggers.
Get the AppFAQ
Is tomato high in Sulfites?
Sulfites: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat tomato if I'm sensitive to Sulfites?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Nightshades, Glutamates, and Lectin next for a fuller picture.