FAILSAFE/ RPAH ELIMINATION: spotlight on rice crackers

People with suspected natural food chemical sensitivities (salicylates, amines, glutamates and some food additives such as artificial colours and msg) may undertake the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital elimination diet, also known as the RPAH elimination or the FAILSAFE diet as a way of diagnosing and managing these sensitivities.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY: BRAND NEW Dietitian led Facebook group: Amines, Salicylates and Glutamates: The Food Intolerance Dietitian for great information and community support.

FB Support Group: low salicylates, amines, glutamates, additives

Plain rice crackers are often eaten as part of this diet as rice is naturally low in salicylates, amines and glutamates (SAG) and are easily found at the supermarkets.

RICE CRACKERS: plain is not always plain!

Buyer beware, as I have noticed that the ingredients of the so called plain rice crackers are changing and do not always end up being so plain.

Here are the ingredients from a homebrand PLAIN rice cracker for a leading supermarket:

Australian Rice Flour (92%), Bamboo Fibre, Sunflower Oil, Salt, Maltodextrin, Sugar, Flavour Enhancer (627, 631).

627: Disodium-5′-guanylate = a flavour enhancer

631: Disodium-5′-inosinaten = another flavour enhancer

NOT SO PLAIN!

SUITABLE RICE CRACKERS FOR THE RPAH ELIMINATION DIET

Avoid the Rice crackers if they have listed in the ingredients:

- flavour as an ingredient although sold as plain (flavoured rice crackers tend to be vary high in glutamates, as are most savoury snack foods)

- seeds (including chia seeds): high in salicylates and amines

- seaweed: very high in salicylates, amines and glutamates

- yeast extract

- soy sauce powder

- flavour enhancers added: see below

Note white or brown rice is absolutely fine but avoid wholegrain ( = seeds, which are high in salicylates and amines). NOTE the common additives you can often see listed in savoury snack food:

GLUTAMATE ADDITIVES

620: L-glutamic acid

621: Monosodium L-glutamate or MSG

622: Monopotassium L-glutamate

623: Calcium glutamate

624: Monoammonium L-glutamate

625: Magnesium glutamate

OTHER FLAVOUR ENHANCERS

627: Disodium-5′-guanylate

631: Disodium-5′-inosinate

635: Disodium-5′-ribonucleotides

636: Maltol

637: Ethyl maltol

FLAVOUR MODIFIERS

640: Glycine

641: L-Leucine

Many previously recommended plain rice crackers have turned up with flavours added, or some flavour enhancers, as listed above. Others may have Artifical Antioxidants (for example 319 = Tert-Butylhydroquinone- TBHQ or 320 = Butylated hydroxyanisole/ BHA)

Always check, even with recommended brands as they can, and do, change without notice.

SUITABLE PLAIN RICE CRACKERS on the RPAH/ FAILSAFE DIET

See some recommended plain rice crackers below: checked 20/1/25 (but always check for yourself!).

Fine suitable plain rice crackers is a bit hard these days: here are some limited choices:

Ingredients listed: Rice (97%), Rice Bran Oil, Salt.

SAKATA plain is readily available in leading supermarkets in Australia

Tribe rice crackers- may need to search speciality stores.

Found in specialty stores (I found this in a leading health food store).

You will notice oil the packet that the rice is made from Jasmine rice: see note below re Jasmine rice and moderate salicylates.

The Ceres Organics plain rice/quinoa cakes are also suitable.

This blog will be updated as new products come to hand, feel free to contact me with any suitable rice products you come across that fits the bill!

Supporting the FAILSAE/ RPAH elimination diet.

NOTE RE: JASMINE RICE & MODERATE SALICYLATES

Most rice crackers are made from jasmine rice which are moderate in salicylates, rather than low, as preferred, however, this may need to be overlooked as it is so hard to source non Jasmine based rice crackers.

NOTE RE: FODMAP diet

Rice crackers that do not have onion/garlic are suitable for the Low FODMAP diet. All products reviewed are also Low FODMAP.

Updated 20/01/25