Jerk Seasoning Histamine Information

Jerk seasoning, particularly relished in Caribbean dishes and renowned for its spicy-sweet flavor, is a unique blend of ingredients such as allspice, Scotch bonnet peppers, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, garlic, and other various spices. Direct research into the impact of jerk seasoning on histamine levels is limited. However, by looking into the individual components of this blend, some insights can be offered. Garlic, a common ingredient in jerk seasoning, is listed as low in histamine and is unlikely to raise histamine levels when consumed in moderate quantities. In fact, garlic is often recommended to those following a low histamine diet (1). However, other ingredients such as nutmeg have varying impacts. Nutmeg reportedly delays the breakdown of histamine, potentially leading to higher histamine levels in the body (2). Among other components, the presence of Scotch bonnet peppers and other types of peppers and spices used might be histamine liberators, which do not contain histamine per se but promote its release within the body (3). This might potentially increase the levels of histamine when consumed. Apart from these, one must keep in mind that the ingredient composition of jerk seasoning can vary depending on the product or recipe, which leaves a gap in our ability to categorically determine the level of histamine or its effects vis-a-vis jerk seasoning. The ingredients in jerk seasoning vary widely, and similarly, their individual impacts on histamine levels are diverse. As each individual's reactions to certain foods can be unique, the effect of jerk seasoning on histamine levels may also depend on individual tolerance and sensitivities. This product has not been researched well enough to publish any concrete information, our team is working hard on this. Data will be available soon. References: 1. Maintz L, Novak N. Histamine and histamine intolerance. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2007 May 1;85(5):1185-96. 2. Wöhrl S, Hemmer W, Focke M, Rappersberger K, Jarisch R. Histamine intolerance-like symptoms in healthy volunteers after oral provocation with liquid histamine. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings. 2004 Sep 1;25(5):305-11. 3. Comas-Basté O, Sánchez-Pérez S, Veciana-Nogués MT, Latorre-Moratalla ML, Vidal-Carou MC. Histamine intolerance: The current state of the art. Biomolecules. 2020 Aug;10(8):1181.