Allergy diet - preservative low
This document is part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. It is not to be used for patient education.
Aim
To provide a diet low in added preservatives.
Characteristics
Avoids the following additives:
- sorbic acid (200–203),
- benzoic acid (210–213, 216, 218)
- sulphites (220–225, 228),
- propionate (280–283)
- nitrite / nitrate (249–252)
- antioxidants (310–321)
Indications
Intolerance to artificial preservatives, established by a medically supervised placebo-controlled challenge.
Nutritional adequacy
Nutritionally adequate.
Precautions
It is not possible to provide a full list of all permitted commercial products; the following are general guidelines only. Ingredient lists of processed foods must be carefully and regularly scrutinised. Potatoes purchased peeled (or in commercial products such as dried mixes), and dried fruits typically have added preservatives used to prevent discolouration.
Paediatrics
Suitable for use in paediatrics when combined with an age-appropriate diet.
Specific menu planning guidelines
Allowed | Not allowed | |
---|---|---|
Hot main dishes | All plain cooked meat, poultry, fish, eggs and legumes | Casserole dishes made with commercial stocks or wine Processed meats (e.g. ham, silverside, bacon, sausages) Meat pies Dishes containing cheese, potato, breadcrumbs or dried fruit (e.g. macaroni cheese, quiche, crumbed fish) |
Sauces, gravies | All others | Gravies made with commercial gravy mix, unless preservative free – check label |
Starchy vegetables / pasta / rice | All plain fresh potato, pasta and rice | Any potato purchased pre-peeled (e.g. frozen french fries) |
Vegetables | All others | Vegetables in white sauce or with cheese (e.g. cauliflower au gratin) |
Soups | Most soups – check label | Tomato, vegetable, chicken noodle – check label |
Sandwiches | None | All |
Salads, dressings | Most salad ingredients Plain salad dressing (oil and vinegar) and mayonnaise – check labels (many vinegars have preservatives) | Processed meats, eg ham, silverside, chicken roll Commercial salad dressings Chutneys and relish |
Breads, cereals | Breads labelled preservative-free. Confirm vinegar as an ingredient is sulphite free. Bread crumbs Rice cakes Most plain breakfast cereals without added fruit or nuts (e.g. rolled oats, Weet-Bix™, Corn Flakes®, Rice Bubbles®) | Most commercial breads have added preservatives Cereals with added fruit – check label |
Spreads | Butter, honey, Vegemite™, marmalade, peanut butter Most jams – check label | Most margarines Jams with added colours |
Hot breakfast choices | All others | Sausages, bacon, ham |
Fruit | All fresh fruit and most canned fruits | Dried fruit, prunes and commercial fruit salads – check label |
Yoghurt | Plain yoghurt | Flavoured and fruit yoghurt |
Desserts | Milk-based desserts (e.g. custards, creamy rice), plain puddings, ice-cream, cheesecake – check label | Jelly, toppings, mousses, fruit cake |
Milk and cheese | All plain milk Most cheeses | Flavoured milk, milkshakes Cottage cheese, ricotta cheese |
Beverages | Tea, coffee Only tetra-pack juices or those without additives | Juice with non-permitted preservatives added Cordial and soft drinks |
Biscuits | Only preservative-free biscuits (e.g. Milk Coffee™) | Most commercial biscuits |
Miscellaneous | 100% white vinegar created from molassess via microbial fermentation | Bonox®, Milo®, coconut All other vinegar |
References
- Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. Sulfite allergy.
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Allergy Unit. RPAH Elimination diet handbook. Sydney: RPAH; 2010.
- Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Choosing the right stuff: the official shoppers’ guide to food additives and labels, kilojoules and fat content. Sydney: Murdoch Books; 2007.
- Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Benzoates, sulphites and sorbates in the food supply: report of the 21st Australian total diet study. 2005.
- Swain AR, Soutter VL, Loblay RH. Friendly food: the complete guide to avoiding allergies, additives and problem chemicals. Sydney: Murdoch Books; 2004
- Swain, Anne; Soutter, Velencia; Loblay, Robert (2013). RPAH Elimination Diet Handbook with Food & Shopping Guide (PDF). ISBN 9780980616408.
Change log
August 2020
Section updated | Change |
---|---|
Specific menu planning guidelines - Breads/cereals | In Allowed, added after Breads labelled preservative free. Confirm vinegar, as an ingredient, is sulphite free |
In Allowed, added Bread crumbs | |
Specific menu planning guidelines - Miscellaneous | In Allowed, added 100% white vinegar created from molassess via microbial fermentation |
In Not Allowed, added All other vinegar | |
References | Added Swain, Anne; Soutter, Valencia; Loblay Robert (2013). "RPAH Elimination Diet Handbook with Food & Shopping Guide" (PDF). ISBN 9780980616408 |