Cumin
Other names cumin seeds, ground cumin
Cumin: high in salicylate; low in histamine. If you're sensitive to any of these, check it against your profile before eating.
Intolerances
- SalicylateHigh
Cumin is dried seed measured at 604.97 mg of salicylic acid per kilogram — the highest of all 112 foods in the survey, and rarely used alone in quantity — it matters most inside spice blends, where several equally concentrated seeds stack in one spoonful.
Sources· 1
- Malakar S., Gibson P.R., Barrett J.S. & Muir J.G., J Food Compos Anal 57 (2017) 31–39, salicylic acid by GC-MS in 112 foods, Table 2c for the spices. And Gajewska D., Kęszycka P.K. & Szkop M., Food & Function 10 (2019) 7037–7041 ranks cumin among the four culinary spices highest in salicylate
- Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)Low
Cumin itself is not high in histamine. However, it can act as a mild histamine liberator in sensitive individuals. The Swiss list rates it 2 of 3 under “cumin (Cuminum cyminum)” and marks it L, its letter for liberators of mast cell mediators. The letters are a presumed reason, not a measurement.
Sources· 1
- SIGHI — Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance, food-compatibility list (2024-08-29), for the entry, its rating and its letters
- TyramineNone
- SucroseNone
- FODMAPsNone
- LactoseFODMAPsNone
- OligosaccharidesFODMAPsNone
- SorbitolFODMAPsNone
- FructoseFODMAPsNone
- NickelNone
- OxalatesNone
- GlutenNo
Intolerance levels are based on our documented scientific sources. See sources →
React to Salicylate? Check these too
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Frequently asked questions
Which intolerances does cumin affect?
Cumin is notable for salicylate and histamine. Clear on tyramine, sucrose, FODMAPs, lactose, oligosaccharides, sorbitol, fructose, nickel, oxalates and gluten.
Does cumin contain salicylate?
Yes — cumin is high in salicylate. Cumin is dried seed measured at 604.97 mg of salicylic acid per kilogram — the highest of all 112 foods in the survey, and rarely used alone in quantity — it matters most inside spice blends, where several equally concentrated seeds stack in one spoonful.
Does cumin contain histamine?
Cumin contains only low levels of histamine. Cumin itself is not high in histamine. However, it can act as a mild histamine liberator in sensitive individuals. The Swiss list rates it 2 of 3 under “cumin (Cuminum cyminum)” and marks it L, its letter for liberators of mast cell mediators. The letters are a presumed reason, not a measurement. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.
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