• How do we evaluate the FODMAP content of sourdough bread?

    In most bread products, we flag ingredients like wheat, barley, or spelt, because they contain moderate to high levels of fructan. In sourdoughs however, we often do not flag these ingredients, because the fructans are reduced to acceptable levels during the fermentation process. The only exception to this rule is…

  • Why are some ketchups low FODMAP when they contain garlic and onion?

    Interestingly enough, some ketchups and a number of other condiments have been tested and verified low FODMAP at moderate serves – even though they contain traditionally high FODMAP ingredients like onion and garlic. It’s worth noting that the low FODMAP diet is a bit more complex than traditional eat-this-not-that programs,…

  • FODMAP Diet Beginner’s Guide

    The FODMAP Diet is temporary learning diet designed to help alleviate digestive symptoms in those who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The word “FODMAP” is an acronym that represents categories of short-chain carbohydrates known to cause digestive issues like gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain in certain individuals….

  • How to use Spoonful alongside the Monash App

    If you are starting the FODMAP Diet and have just downloaded Spoonful, we highly recommend downloading the Monash App as well. A leader in IBS research, Monash University is constantly testing and retesting foods to determine their FODMAP content at various serving sizes. The following article offers advice and guidance…

  • How Spoonful determines the FODMAP content of a product

    After you scan a barcode, there is quite a lot happening behind the scenes before you get your result. This post takes you through our methodology for estimating the FODMAP content of a product and provides further context on our decision-making process. Basic Methodology for Green, Yellow & Red Products…

  • Low FODMAP Colors Explained

    Once you’ve scanned a barcode, the resulting product will have either a green, yellow or red icon in the top left. This reflects our best estimate of the product’s FODMAP load at 1 serving. Learn more about how we analyze products. Green products If the icon is green, we believe…

  • Does the scanner work for Trader Joe’s and Aldi products?

    Currently, the scanner works on roughly 50% of Trader Joe’s and Aldi products, but many will come up as product not found. Unfortunately, these stores do not list their products online, so it is difficult for us to gather information on the ingredients they use. We hope this changes, but…

  • Why did a product change colors?

    If you notice that a prior scan has changed colors from say, red to yellow or yellow to green, it means we have made a change to our dataset that has impacted how we classify it. We publish data updates ever 1-2 weeks and will always notify you by email…

  • How do I report a product?

    If you see something that doesn’t look right, please report it! We’re happy to take a look and make any necessary changes. Tap the grey flag icon in the top right-hand corner of the product modal. Leave us a message explaining why the product needs another look. We typically respond…

  • Get instant results on submitted products with Spoonful AI

    As of July 8th 2024, we’re excited to announce that products you submit will return a result in seconds with the help of Spoonful AI. When you scan a product that isn’t in our database, you’ll see a popup that asks if you’d like to submit it for review. If…