SALICYLATES

Salicylates are a family of natural plant chemicals. They act as a natural hormone and preservative, protecting the plants against diseases, insects, fungi and harmful bacteria.

Salicylates are highest in unripe fruit and decrease as fruit ripens. They are often concentrated just under the skin of the fruit or vegetable and in the outer leaves of vegetables.

For those with a Salicylate sensitivity, this is a hard one to avoid as the natural plant chemicals are in nearly all fruits, vegetables and spices in varying amounts - being AWARE of what you're eating within a daily intake is possibly the only way to control your overload limit. Keeping a FOOD DIARY allows you to track your intake and helps you to see your tolerance levels.

Synthetically produced Salicylates, from salicylic acid are found in medicines such as aspirin, toothpaste, perfumes/fragrance and food preservatives.

Some Essential Oils have varying levels of Salicylates - for those with an acute Salicylate Sensitivity, essential oils are best avoided. For further essential oil information see Terpenesin the CanaryBird.nz A-Z Directory especially if you’re reacting specifically to Essential Oils and fragrance.

Salicylate symptoms are unique, wide & varied from red, tingling and swollen lips to a spreading rash, hives around the mouth, sinus congestion, head and tummy aches, wheezing and diarrhea.

The following extensive lists will help you to identify those foods which range from: SAFE, LOW, MODERATE, HIGH, to VERY HIGH:

SAFE - NEGLIGIBLE

FRUIT	VEGETABLES	GRAINS	CONDIMENTS, SAUCES & SEASONING	SWEETENERS & BEVERAGES
banana (except sugar bananas) lime pears (ripe & peeled)	bamboo shoots cabbage (green/white) celery lettuce (iceberg) potato (old, white, peeled) swede	arrowroot barley buckwheat millet oats rice (brown & white) rye wheat	malt vinegar salt	carob cocoa caramel (homemade) golden syrup maple syrup white sugar
MEAT, FISH & POULTRY	DAIRY, SOY & EGGS	LEGUMES, NUTS & SEEDS	FATS & OILS	PROCESSED SNACKS
beef & veal chicken fish lamb organ meats pork rabbit sausage casing scallops tripe turkey	butter cheeses (all except bluevein) cream eggs milk (cow & goat) rice milk soy milk tofu tofu icecream yoghurt (natural no topping)	beans, dried (except borlotti) chickpeas green split peas lentils(brown & red) peas (dried) poppy seeds soy beans	butter canola oil margarine (vegetable or canola oil only) safflower oil soy oil sunflower oil

LOW

FRUIT	VEGETABLES	GRAINS	CONDIMENTS, SAUCES & SEASONING	SWEETENERS & BEVERAGES
apple (golden delicious) nashi pear papaya pawpaw tamarillo	asparagus (fresh) bean sprouts brussel sprouts cabbage (red) cauliflower chives choko green beans onion, leek, shallots peas potato (white)	barley oats, rolled rice flour rye flour sago soy flour wheat cereals wheat flour	apple butter spread (golden delicious) fennel (dried) garlic parsley saffron sea salt soy sauce / tamari vanilla	caramel decaf coffee golden syrup lemonade malt extract toffee
MEAT, FISH & POULTRY	DAIRY, SOY & EGGS	LEGUMES, NUTS & SEEDS	FATS & OILS	SNACKS
liver prawns shellfish		barlotti beans cashews (raw) hazelnuts pecans sunflower seeds yellow split peas	ghee	plain salted potato chips

MODERATE

FRUIT	VEGETABLES	GRAINS	CONDIMENTS,SAUCES & SEASONINGS	SWEETENERS & BEVERAGES
apple (red delicious) custard apple figs (tin or dried) lemon loquat mango passionfruit pear (w peel or tin) persimmon pomegranate rhubarb	asparagus (tin) beetroot carrot chinese vegetables eggplant (peeled) lettuce (other than iceberg) mushrooms olives, black parsnip potato (new or red) pumpkin seaweed snow peas snow pea sprouts spinach (frozen) sweet corn turnip		coriander (fresh) horseradish mayonnaise	coffee dandelion coffee ecco herbal tea (except peppermint) molasses raw sugar stevia tea (decaf) tea substitutes
MEAT, FISH & POULTRY	DAIRY, SOY & EGGS	LEGUMES, NUTS & SEEDS	FATS & OILS	COMMERCIAL SNACKS
	blue vein cheese	coconut, desiccated peanut butter pumpkin seeds sesame seeds walnuts	almond oil corn oil peanut oil	apple chips (red/golden delicious) corn chips taco shells

HIGH

FRUIT	VEGETABLES	GRAINS	CONDIMENTS, SAUCES & SEASONING	SWEETENERS & BEVERAGES
apple (granny smith) cantaloupe cherries (tin) currant fig (fresh) kiwifruit lychee mandarin melons nectarine peach sugar banana watermelon	alfalfa artichocke broccoli cucumber (w peel) okra olives, black (tin) spinach (fresh) sweet potato tomato (fresh) watercress zucchini	corn/maize cereals cornflakes cornmeal polenta maize breakfast cereals with fruits, nuts, honey or coconut	allspice bay leaf caraway cardamom cinnamon clove coriander five spice ginger mustard pepper pimento	all fruit juices
MEAT, FISH & POULTRY	DAIRY, SOY & EGGS	LEGUMES, NUTS & SEEDS	FATS & OILS	COMMERCIAL SNACKS
fish (tin with safe/moderate oils or seasoning		brazil nuts broad beans cashews (roasted) coconut macadamia pine nuts pistachio nuts	copha sesame oil walnut oil	popcorn

VERY HIGH

FRUIT	VEGETABLES	CONDIMENTS, SAUCES & SEASONING	SWEETENERS & BEVERAGES
all dried fruits apricots avocado berries (all) blackcurrant cherries currant dates grape grapefruit guava mandarin orange pineapple plum prune redcurrant rock melon tangelo tangerine	capsicum champignon chicory chili peppers endive gherkin olives, green peppers radish tomato products	Herbs & Spices: aniseed, basil, cayenne, chili flakes/powder, cumin, curry, dill, fenugreek, garam masala, ginger, mace, mint, mustard, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, pepper (black & white), rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, turmeric chili sauce curry paste fish paste gravy (commercial) meat paste stock cubes & powder tabasco sauce tomato paste/sauce vinegar (white, wine & cider) worcestershire sauce yeast extracts	beer brandy cider cola drinks cordials & soft drinks fruit-flavoured drinks flavoured sweets/ices ginger beer honey & honey flavour jam (except pear) liqueurs liquorice mint-flavoured sweets orange juice peppermint tea peppermints rum tea tomato juice vegetable juice wine port sherry
MEAT, FISH & POULTRY	LEGUMES, NUTS & SEEDS	FATS & OILS
processed meats: salami, ham, sausages, pastrami, smoked chicken, frankfurters, hot dogs, meat pies etc)	almonds peanuts (with skin) water chestnuts	coconut oil olive oil

Other sources of Salicylates

Aspirin and Medications
Aspirin and any medications containing aspirin or Salicylic acid and/or Methyl salicylate. Naturally, Methyl salicylate is the active ingredient in Wintergreen essential oil (also referred to as checkerberry or teaberry), the methyl ester of salicylic acid and can be extremely toxic, especially to young children and those with a Salicylate sensitivity.

Produced by many plants species, (particularly wintergreens) to help protect the plants from potential pathogens and predators. Methyl salicylate has a sweet ‘minty’ fruit odour, commonly synthetically produced and widely used in many products such as:

fragrance & scent additive
flavour - chewing gum & mints
beverages
insecticides & repellents
mouthwash, rinses & sprays
topical deep heat anti-inflammatory & pain relief products

More information on Wintergreen-oil

Essential Oils
The following Essential Oils varying amounts of contain Methyl salicylate:

Oil of Wintergreen, Birch, Ylang Ylang, Clove, Tea Tree, Siberian ginseng, Echinacea, Meadowsweet, Ginkgo biloba, Licorice, Goldenseal, St John's wort, Korean ginseng, St Mary's thistle, Dandelion, Chaste tree, Withania.

Other essential oil may have minor salicylates, such as benzyl salicylate and ethyl salicylate - some only in trace amounts but I would strongly suggest that if you have a Salicylate Sensitivity to AVOID ALL ESSENTIAL OILS.

Products
There are a variety of different products containing Salicylates, whilst this list may look quite generic, it’s sometimes difficult to determine if a product is Salicylate free or not but having the awareness to potentially avoid it can minimise flares.

The list below was compiled by SalicylateSensitivity.com & The Mayo Clinic: for a more detailed list of medications, see the links.

Products that often contain Salicylates:	Terms/Ingredients to Avoid:	Brand Names of Common Drugs containing Salicylates:
Acne products Air fresheners Alka Seltzer Breath savers Bubble baths Cleaning products Cosmetics Detergents Essential oils Fabric conditioners Fragrances and perfumes Gums Hair sprays, gels and mousses Herbal remedies Lipsticks and Lip glosses Lotions Lozenges Medications Mouthwash Muscle pain creams Pain relievers Pepto-Bismol Razors with aloe strips Shampoos and Conditioners Shaving cream Skin cleansers or exfoliants Soaps Sunscreens and tanning lotions Supplements derived from rose hips or bioflavoniods Toothpaste Topical creams Wart or callus removers	Acetylsalicylic acid Aloe Vera Any coal tar-derived dye Artificial flavorings Artificial food colourings Aspirin Azo dyes - yellow 5&6, red 40 Benzoates (preservatives) Benzyl salicylate Beta-hydroxy acid BHA BHT Choline salicylate Disalcid Ethyl salicylate Eucalyptus Oils Isoamyl salicylate Magnesium salicylate Menthol Methyl Salicylate Mint Nitrates/Nitrites Octylsalicylate Oil of Wintergreen Peppermint Phenylethyl salicylate Salicylaldehyde Salicylamide Salicylate Salicylic acid Salsalate Sodium Salicylate Spearmint	Aspirin Acuprin 81 Amigesic Anacin Caplets and Tablets Aspirin Regimen Bayer Bayer Children’s Aspirin Bufferin Caplets and Tablets Disalcid Mobidin Mono-Gesic Norwich Aspirin P-A-C Revised Formula Regular Strength Ascriptin Salflex Salsitab Sloprin St. Joseph Adult Chewable Tricosal Trilisate ZORprin

For further reading on Salicylates: