Saffron
Other names Safran
Saffron: moderate in salicylate; low in nickel. If you're sensitive to any of these, check it against your profile before eating.
Intolerances
- SalicylateModerate
Saffron: extremely concentrated per gram, but used in threads — a pinch for a whole dish. The quantity is what keeps this manageable, not the concentration. Paterson's spice assay gives a salicylate ceiling for the class and no figure for any one spice, so this level is an ordering.
Sources· 1
- Paterson J.R. et al., J Agric Food Chem 54 (2006) 2891-2896, salicylic acid content of spices and its bioavailability
- NickelLow
Saffron is dried flower stigmas, hand-picked - the most expensive spice by weight and the one used in the smallest quantity. A few threads carry almost nothing of anything. The nickel here follows a study of SPICES that analysed the powder directly instead of digesting it first.
Sources· 1
- Virgilio A. et al., J Braz Chem Soc 26:10 (2015) 1988-1993, Cd, Ni and V in spices by solid-sampling HR-CS GF-AAS
- FODMAPsNone
- LactoseFODMAPsNone
- Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)None
- GlutenNo
- FructoseFODMAPsNone
- OligosaccharidesFODMAPsNone
- SorbitolFODMAPsNone
- SucroseNone
- TyramineNone
- OxalatesNone
Intolerance levels are based on our documented scientific sources. See sources →
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Frequently asked questions
Which intolerances does Saffron affect?
Saffron is notable for salicylate and nickel. Clear on FODMAPs, lactose, histamine, gluten, fructose, oligosaccharides, sorbitol, sucrose, tyramine and oxalates.
Does Saffron contain salicylate?
Saffron contains moderate levels of salicylate. Saffron: extremely concentrated per gram, but used in threads — a pinch for a whole dish. The quantity is what keeps this manageable, not the concentration. Paterson's spice assay gives a salicylate ceiling for the class and no figure for any one spice, so this level is an ordering.
Does Saffron contain nickel?
Saffron contains only low levels of nickel. Saffron is dried flower stigmas, hand-picked - the most expensive spice by weight and the one used in the smallest quantity. A few threads carry almost nothing of anything. The nickel here follows a study of SPICES that analysed the powder directly instead of digesting it first. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.
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