Salicylates are derivatives of salicylic acid that occur naturally in plants and serve to protect the plants against diseases, insects, fungi, and harmful bacteria. The range of foods that have no salicylate content is very limited. Synthetic salicylates can also be found in many medications, perfumes and preservatives.
Both natural and synthetic salicylates can cause health problems in anyone when consumed in large doses. But for those who are salicylate intolerant, even small doses of salicylate can cause adverse reactions.
If you are interested in learning more about salicylate sensitivity, go to www.salicylatesensitivity.com and www.feingold.org/.