Beef liver
Beef liver: high in histamine and tyramine. If you're sensitive to any of these, check it against your profile before eating.
Intolerances
- Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)High
Beef liver is a filter organ with a heavy blood supply, and both of those make it spoil faster than muscle - the amines rise measurably within days of slaughter even under refrigeration. It is only tolerable extremely fresh or frozen straight away, and 'looks fine' is not a test that works here.
Sources· 2
- Villanueva Valero et al., Food Sci Technol Int 11 (2005), amines during storage of vacuum-packaged kidney, liver and spleen
- Hernandez-Jover et al., J Agric Food Chem 1997
- TyramineHigh
Liver is the classic non-fermented exception: dense in protein and quick to degrade, it becomes tyramine-rich as soon as it is no longer perfectly fresh. Old MAOI diets banned it outright; modern guidance is narrower - fresh liver cooked the day you buy it is the low-risk form, stored liver is not.
Sources· 3
- EFSA Journal 2011
- McCabe-Sellers et al., J Food Compos Anal 2006
- Villanueva Valero et al., Food Sci Technol Int 11 (2005), amines during storage of vacuum-packaged kidney, liver and spleen
- SalicylateNone
- SucroseNone
- FODMAPsNone
- LactoseFODMAPsNone
- OligosaccharidesFODMAPsNone
- SorbitolFODMAPsNone
- FructoseFODMAPsNone
- NickelNone
- OxalatesNone
- GlutenNo
Intolerance levels are based on our documented scientific sources. See sources →
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Frequently asked questions
Which intolerances does beef liver affect?
Beef liver is notable for histamine and tyramine. Clear on salicylate, sucrose, FODMAPs, lactose, oligosaccharides, sorbitol, fructose, nickel, oxalates and gluten.
Does beef liver contain histamine?
Yes — beef liver is high in histamine. Beef liver is a filter organ with a heavy blood supply, and both of those make it spoil faster than muscle - the amines rise measurably within days of slaughter even under refrigeration. It is only tolerable extremely fresh or frozen straight away, and 'looks fine' is not a test that works here.
Does beef liver contain tyramine?
Yes — beef liver is high in tyramine. Liver is the classic non-fermented exception: dense in protein and quick to degrade, it becomes tyramine-rich as soon as it is no longer perfectly fresh. Old MAOI diets banned it outright; modern guidance is narrower - fresh liver cooked the day you buy it is the low-risk form, stored liver is not. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.
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