Back to Tyramine food checker
pollock

pollock

Seafood

Is pollock high in tyramine?

Tyramine status
Safe

Find out whether pollock is high or low in tyramine, see its exact rating, and check its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility all in one place.

Sensitivity notes

Why tyramine food checker matters

Tyramine is an amino acid that forms when proteins break down. It's found in aged, fermented, or spoiled foods. For people taking MAO inhibitors or those with tyramine sensitivity, it can cause headaches, elevated blood pressure, and other reactions.

  • Choose fresh over aged, fermented, or preserved foods
  • Eat protein foods fresh and store properly
  • Be especially careful if taking MAO inhibitor medications

Triggers

HistamineSafe
Histamine Liberators
FODMAPsSafe
FructansSafe
GOSSafe
FructoseSafe
PolyolsSafe
GlutenSafe
LactoseSafe
Dairy ProteinsSafe
NightshadesSafe
SalicylatesModerate
OxalatesModerate
NickelSafe
SulfitesSafe
NitritesSafe
GlutamatesLow
TyramineSafe
CaffeineSafe
LectinLow
Low FermentationLow

Diets

GlutenFit
InflammationFit
VeganAvoid
VegetarianAvoid
Paleo AIPFit
MediterraneanFit
DASH DietFit
EoE CompatibleAvoid
FODMAPsFit
Low FermentationAvoid
Priority ingredient notes

Serving size, prep, and portion notes for pollock

Pollock is the whitefish inside most fish fingers, fast food fish sandwiches and imitation crab, and as a plain fillet it is one of the cleanest proteins you can log. It grades A for histamine, gluten, lactose, FODMAPs, nickel, sulfites, nitrites and tyramine. Alaska pollock also has a handling advantage almost no other fish has: the fleet processes and freezes it at sea, often within hours of the haul, so the slow warm window in which fish histamine actually forms never really opens. That is why the answer to "is pollock high in histamine" is a confident no. The trigger risk with pollock is almost never the fish. It is the batter, the crumb and the surimi paste wrapped around it, which bring wheat, egg white and flavour enhancers the fillet does not have.

Watch for

Graded A for histamine, helped by the Alaska fishery freezing at sea rather than shipping chilled. A pollock fillet that has been thawed, refrozen and thawed again loses that advantage / Breaded and battered pollock is not gluten free. The fillet grades A for gluten, the crumb does not, and fried versions also carry whatever oil the fryer was sharing / Surimi and imitation crab are built from pollock but are not just pollock. Expect wheat or tapioca starch, egg white, sugar, sorbitol and added flavour enhancers, plus crab or shellfish derived flavouring on many brands / Graded borderline (C) for salicylates and oxalates and mild (B) for free glutamate. Low enough that most sensitive eaters do fine, but worth a line in the diary if you are running a strict elimination phase / Excluded on a six-food elimination diet for eosinophilic oesophagitis, which removes fish and shellfish as one of its six groups regardless of species

Learn More

Tyramine Guide

Everything you need to know about tyramine sensitivity and smart food choices.

Tyramine is an amino acid that forms when proteins break down. It's found in aged, fermented, or spoiled foods. For people taking MAO inhibitors or those with tyramine sensitivity, it can cause headaches, elevated blood pressure, and other reactions.

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 Tyramine sensitivity:

View all safe options

These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:

If you're sensitive to Tyramine, consider these strategies:

  • 1Choose fresh over aged, fermented, or preserved foods
  • 2Eat protein foods fresh and store properly
  • 3Be especially careful if taking MAO inhibitor medications
  • 4Common high-tyramine foods include aged cheese, cured meats, and soy sauce
  • 5Ripeness affects tyramine - choose less ripe fruits

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.

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FAQ

Is pollock high in Tyramine?

Tyramine: low signal for most people.

Can I still eat pollock if I'm sensitive to Tyramine?

Usually fine in normal portions.

What else should I check?

Check Vegan, Vegetarian, and EoE Compatible next for a fuller picture.