Papa Murphy's Jalapenos

Yes, Papa Murphy's Jalapenos are high in histamine. The main reason is the vinegar they're packed in, since a plain vinegar without a named type is treated as one likely fermented from wine, cider, or malt, and the pepper itself adds a moderate note.

Why papa murphy's jalapenos are rated high

This topping is just jalapeno, water, vinegar, salt, and calcium chloride. The vinegar is what puts this topping at high, since a label that just says vinegar without naming a type gets the cautious reading here. On top of that, chili peppers like jalapeno are a mild histamine liberator, meaning they can nudge your body to release its own stored histamine, so someone can react to a fresh-tasting pepper even apart from the vinegar it's packed in. Calcium chloride is just a firming salt and isn't part of the concern.

What changes your risk

• The vinegar pack: this is the main reason the topping is rated high; a version made with a vinegar clearly labeled as distilled or white would be treated differently, but that's not what this ingredient list shows.
• The jalapeno itself: the pepper is a mild liberator, and that effect depends on how much of it you eat.
• How many you pile on: a scattered few rings and a heavy layer are very different amounts of both the vinegar and the pepper.
• Baked at home on a pizza: Papa Murphy's pizzas are taken home to bake, and heat doesn't change what's already in the topping, so the amount you choose at the counter is what you get.
• What else is on the pizza: jalapenos rarely go on alone, so the total of all toppings is what matters, and pairing them with lower items keeps the pizza as a whole in a better place.

Lower-histamine alternatives

If you want a topping with some bite that isn't packed in vinegar, the lower-histamine items at Papa Murphy's are Onion Mix, Zesty Herb Blend, and Chicken. Onion Mix gives you sharpness, Zesty Herb Blend gives you flavor, and Chicken gives you protein, without the vinegar pack.

How to lower the risk

At the counter, ask for a light amount of jalapenos rather than the standard scatter, or leave them off. Build the rest of the pizza from lower items like Onion Mix, Zesty Herb Blend, and Chicken so the jalapenos aren't the only thing pulling the pizza up. Because this is a cold vinegar-packed topping, the amount you choose matters more than how long it's sat in the container.

Common questions

Are pickled jalapenos high in histamine?

Papa Murphy's jalapenos are rated high mainly because of the vinegar they're packed in, which is treated as high when the label doesn't name a type. The pepper adds a further moderate note.

Why would a fresh pepper bother someone with histamine intolerance?

Chili peppers like jalapeno are a mild histamine liberator, meaning they can nudge your body to release what it already has stored, separate from the vinegar they're packed in.

What is a lower-histamine topping at Papa Murphy's?

Onion Mix, Zesty Herb Blend, and Chicken are the lower-histamine items listed, and none of them are packed in vinegar.