Blue cheese
Blue cheese is high in Histamine and Tyramine. It has low levels of Oxalates and Gluten. If you're sensitive to any of these, check it against your profile before eating.
Intolerances
- Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)High
blue, mould-ripened cheeses are among the very highest in histamine, so even a small portion can trigger symptoms. There is no low-histamine version.
- TyramineHigh
Aged cheese is the reference tyramine food — the 'cheese effect' is named after it. Bacteria break the milk protein down over months and decarboxylate its tyrosine, so tyramine tracks ageing almost linearly: a mature cheddar or a blue can exceed 100 mg/kg while a fresh cheese sits near zero. Cooking does not destroy it, and it keeps rising in the fridge after opening. If you take an MAOI antidepressant this is the single most important food to avoid — a large portion can trigger a hypertensive crisis. Sources: EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards, Scientific Opinion on tyramine and histamine in fermented foods, EFSA Journal 2011; McCabe-Sellers et al., J Food Compos Anal 2006; Gardner et al., J Clin Psychiatry 1996.
- OxalatesLow
- GlutenPossible
cheese is naturally gluten-free, and modern blue cheeses use gluten-free cultures. Only pre-grated cheese carries a mild gluten risk, as wheat starch is sometimes added as an anti-caking agent.
- SalicylateNone
- SucroseNone
- FODMAPsNone
- LactoseNone
- OligosaccharidesNone
- SorbitolNone
- FructoseNone
- NickelNone
Intolerance levels are based on our documented scientific sources. See sources →
React to Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)? Check these too
More in Dairy
- 3.5% milk→
- Aged cheese→
- Blue cheese→
- Brie→
- Buffalo milk mozzarella→
- Buttermilk→
- Camembert cheese→
- Casein→
- Cheddar→
- Cream cheese→
- Crème fraîche→
- Dairy milk→
Frequently asked questions
Which intolerances does blue cheese affect?
blue cheese is notable for Histamine, Tyramine, Oxalates and Gluten.
Does blue cheese contain Histamine?
Yes — blue cheese is high in Histamine. blue, mould-ripened cheeses are among the very highest in histamine, so even a small portion can trigger symptoms. There is no low-histamine version.
Does blue cheese contain Tyramine?
Yes — blue cheese is high in Tyramine. Aged cheese is the reference tyramine food — the 'cheese effect' is named after it. Bacteria break the milk protein down over months and decarboxylate its tyrosine, so tyramine tracks ageing almost linearly: a mature cheddar or a blue can exceed 100 mg/kg while a fresh cheese sits near zero. Cooking does not destroy it, and it keeps rising in the fridge after opening. If you take an MAOI antidepressant this is the single most important food to avoid — a large portion can trigger a hypertensive crisis. Sources: EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards, Scientific Opinion on tyramine and histamine in fermented foods, EFSA Journal 2011; McCabe-Sellers et al., J Food Compos Anal 2006; Gardner et al., J Clin Psychiatry 1996.
Does blue cheese contain Oxalates?
blue cheese contains only low levels of Oxalates.
Does blue cheese contain Gluten?
blue cheese contains only low levels of Gluten. cheese is naturally gluten-free, and modern blue cheeses use gluten-free cultures. Only pre-grated cheese carries a mild gluten risk, as wheat starch is sometimes added as an anti-caking agent. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.