FOOD & DRINK
FREE-FROM BITES Alex Gazzola Freelance Journalist
A roundup of news and product launches in the world of ‘free from’ and low-FODMAPs.
Alex is a writer specialising in food intolerance, coeliac disease, IBS, restricted diets and ‘freefrom’ food. He is the author of five books and regularly blogs at his site:
It has been a busy early start in 2018 for FODMAPs in the UK. The national IBS charity, the IBS Network, has just announced an exclusive collaboration with UK food distributors Fodmap Easy Ltd, to bring the well-established Australian brand of low-FODMAP sauces and soups into the British market, with a contribution of sales revenue going to the charity. These products are now available through the IBS Network’s online shop (www. theibsnetwork.org/shop) and include a sweet and tasty Roasted Pumpkin Soup, as well as a versatile Red Wine Italian Tomato Sauce, which is free of all 14 EU designated allergens, as well as onion and garlic. Some products contain one or two allergens, such as celery or shrimp, but never any glutencontaining cereals. The brand is also available through FODMarket (www.fodmarket.co.uk) - a new online store launched in January. Founder Linda Collinet has been a follower of a modified-FODMAP diet for over a year and started the business after feeling frustrated at the dearth of low-FODMAP options available in the country. “Many people living in remote locations find it exceptionally hard to buy low-FODMAP convenience foods,” she says, “and FODMarket addresses that.” At the time of writing, the store has around 50 low-FODMAP products, with further plans to extend the offering. Other stocked brands include Canadian
www. allergy-insight.com
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www.NHDmag.com March 2018 - Issue 132
brand FODY (who produce snack bars, sauces, and seasonings) and other well-known ‘free from’ brands such as Orgran, Delicious Alchemy, Anila’s Sauces, Difatti, Biona and Amisa. FODMarket also plans on stocking a new range of low-FODMAP sauces by start-up brand Bay’s Kitchen (www. bayskitchen.co.uk), whose founder Hayley Burdett told us that the launch sauces are Jalfrezi Curry, Tomato & Basil, and Sweet & Sour, with Pancetta Carbonara to follow later in the year. The initial three sauces feature none of the 14 EU-designated food allergens in the ingredients, but precautionary warnings are in place for ‘allergens including nuts’ - although Hayley reassured us that neither seafood allergens nor lupin or sesame are handled in her kitchens. More launches and their wider availabilities are to be welcomed, of course, but must come with a caveat: as dedicated low-FODMAP brands and products are low in all FODMAPs, but over-reliance upon them should be avoided and patients following the modified-FODMAP plan should always be reminded to consume their own tolerated FODMAPs, within personally safe limits. WHATEVER MAYO BE
Better known for their Italian sauces and antipasti, including some ‘free from’ sauces such as their gluten-free and dairy-free No.9 Basil Pesto, Saclà have surprised many in the market by launching a vegan mayonnaise