Fennel
Fennel: moderate in salicylate; low in histamine, FODMAPs, oligosaccharides and nickel. If you're sensitive to any of these, check it against your profile before eating.
Intolerances
- SalicylateModerate
The fennel bulb is the mild part for salicylate, and the fronds and seeds are far more concentrated.
Sources· 1
- Scotter M.J. et al., Food Chemistry 105 (2007), free and acetyl salicylic acid in foods by GC-MS, and Venema D. et al., J Agric Food Chem 44 (1996), acetylsalicylic and salicylic acid in foods by HPLC
- Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)Low
Fennel carries no meaningful histamine and does not liberate any. Fresh vegetables are the reliable ground on this axis - it is fermenting them, or letting them sit, that changes the answer.
Sources· 1
- SIGHI — Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance, food-compatibility list, for the entry, its rating and its letters
- FODMAPsLow
Fennel is genuinely low: what goes on the plate is the bulb, and at a serving it stays low. Vegetables split on this axis by which organ you eat - storage organs like onion and garlic hoard fructans, while leaves, stems and young shoots do not. Knowing which part of the plant is on the plate answers most of the question.
Sources· 1
- Muir J et al., J Agric Food Chem 55 (2007) 6619-6627 and 57 (2009) 554-565, fructans and short-chain carbohydrates measured in Australian vegetables and fruit
- OligosaccharidesFODMAPsLow
Fennel is a swollen leaf base rather than a true bulb, which is why it does not carry the onion's oligosaccharides despite looking the part. The fronds and seeds are lower still, and the seeds are used in pinches.
- NickelLow
Fennel is low in nickel. The bulb grows above the soil line rather than in it, which limits what it can take up compared with a true root. The nickel here follows a survey of heavy metals in VEGETABLES. A vegetable takes up what its soil holds, so a figure of this kind describes the growing region as much as the plant.
Sources· 1
- Guerra F. et al., Scientia Agricola 69:1 (2012) 54-60, heavy metals in vegetables
- TyramineNone
- SucroseNone
- LactoseFODMAPsNone
- SorbitolFODMAPsNone
- FructoseFODMAPsNone
- OxalatesNone
- GlutenNone
Intolerance levels are based on our documented scientific sources. See sources →
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Frequently asked questions
Which intolerances does fennel affect?
Fennel is notable for salicylate, histamine, FODMAPs, oligosaccharides and nickel. Clear on tyramine, sucrose, lactose, sorbitol, fructose, oxalates and gluten.
Does fennel contain salicylate?
Fennel contains moderate levels of salicylate. The fennel bulb is the mild part for salicylate, and the fronds and seeds are far more concentrated.
Does fennel contain histamine?
Fennel contains only low levels of histamine. Fennel carries no meaningful histamine and does not liberate any. Fresh vegetables are the reliable ground on this axis - it is fermenting them, or letting them sit, that changes the answer.
Does fennel contain FODMAPs?
Fennel contains only low levels of FODMAPs. Fennel is genuinely low: what goes on the plate is the bulb, and at a serving it stays low. Vegetables split on this axis by which organ you eat - storage organs like onion and garlic hoard fructans, while leaves, stems and young shoots do not. Knowing which part of the plant is on the plate answers most of the question.
Does fennel contain oligosaccharides?
Fennel contains only low levels of oligosaccharides. Fennel is a swollen leaf base rather than a true bulb, which is why it does not carry the onion's oligosaccharides despite looking the part. The fronds and seeds are lower still, and the seeds are used in pinches. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.
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