Tomatoes Histamine Information

Tomatoes, along with tomato-based products like ketchup and pizza, are known to have a moderate to high histamine content. While the exact histamine concentration can vary based upon factors like ripeness, tomatoes are nevertheless a common trigger for people living with histamine intolerance (1). The histamine levels in these foods can increase when they ripe or undergo fermentation. Moreover, specific foodstuffs while not high in histamine themselves, are categorized as histamine liberators. These can stimulate the release of histamine within the body and intensify symptoms in those with histamine intolerance. Examples include certain cocoa products and various types of fruits such as strawberries, plums, citrus fruits, pineapple, and kiwi (2). With regards to substances that may lower histamine, research has shown that fresh, unprocessed vegetables and ripe fruits (apart from those mentioned as histamine liberators) generally have low levels of histamine, and therefore can be useful as part of a low-histamine diet (3). In summary, it’s important for individuals with histamine intolerance or sensitivity to consider both the inherent histamine content of foods and their potential as histamine liberators. In the case of tomatoes, both factors appear to contribute to their potential for provoking symptoms of histamine intolerance. References: 1. Maintz L, Novak N. Histamine and histamine intolerance. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 May;85(5):1185-96. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/85.5.1185. PMID: 17490952. 2. Schnedl WJ, Lackner S, Enko D, Schenk M, Mangge H, Forster F. Evaluation of symptoms and symptom combinations in histamine intolerance. Intest Res. 2019;17(3):427-433. doi:10.5217/ir.2018.00152 3. Reese I, Ballmer-Weber B, Beyer K, Fuchs T, Kleine-Tebbe J, Klimek L, Lepp U, Niggemann B, Saloga J, Schäfer C, Werfel T, Zuberbier T, Worm M. German guideline for the management of adverse reactions to ingested histamine. Allergo J Int. 2017;26(2):72-79. doi:10.1007/s40629-017-0011-5