Have you ever wondered how products get the blue Monash FODMAP certification logo? Or maybe if you can eat an unlimited amount of a certified product? Today we’re discussing the Monash University Low FODMAP Product Certification Program and answering your questions. Alana Scott, founder of A Little Bit Yummy is hosting the session and joining her is Emily Clarke, registered dietitian from the Monash University FODMAP team.
This article covers:
- FODMAP Chat Session with registered dietitian Emily Clarke from the Monash University FODMAP team.
- Who are Monash FODMAP?
- What is the product certification program and how does it work?
- Examples of Monash certified products
- Can you eat more than the recommended serving size of a certified product?
- How does the Monash FODMAP team choose which brands to certify?
- Where do you find a list of Monash certified low FODMAP products?
- Extra resources
- Final thoughts
Watch The Video
Monash University Low FODMAP Product Certification Program Q&A Notes
Host: Alana Scott from A Little Bit Yummy
Monash University FODMAP Dietitian: Emily Clarke
We know that the low FODMAP community loves new low FODMAP products, and the Monash FODMAP Certification programme has given us so many options to choose from! Let’s take a look at what this low FODMAP product certification program involves.
Who are Monash FODMAP?
The Monash FODMAP team are the original researchers and founders of the Low FODMAP Diet. Our research team discovered that the low FODMAP diet could help people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) reduce their symptoms. We are very proud to still be researching in the FODMAP space and supporting the IBS community with up-to-date FODMAP research.
What is the Monash Low FODMAP Product Certification Program and how does it work?
The Monash FODMAP team started the low FODMAP product certification program because we were getting lots of questions about whether certain product brands were low FODMAP. We decided the best way to support the community was by working with the food manufacturers to test and certify their products. If you see a product certified by Monash University, then you know it has undergone extensive laboratory testing, just like all the other foods listed in the Monash University FODMAP Diet App.
For each certified product, we collect multiple samples from different batches of the product. These samples are then laboratory tested to determine what FODMAP levels the product contains. Our research team then compares the results to the FODMAP cutoff levels and verifies that the serving size listed on the product packaging is a low FODMAP serving. Once the product is certified, you can be confident that it is low FODMAP and suitable for the first phase of the diet.
Could you show us a couple of products that have been certified?
Monash FODMAP has certified a range of different products, from fibre supplements to stocks, cereals, snack bars and many other products.
Each certified product has the blue Monash FODMAP product certification logo printed on the packaging. Keep an eye out for the Monash FODMAP certified logo when you are at the grocery store.
Here are a couple of examples:
Can you eat more than the recommended serving size of a certified product?
Unfortunately, you can’t eat an unlimited amount of a certified product. The Monash FODMAP certification logo means that the product is low FODMAP at the suggested serving size listed on the product packing. This amount is the serving size that has been tested and confirmed as low FODMAP – if you have a larger serving size, we can’t guarantee that the product will remain low FODMAP. So be mindful of your serving sizes, especially if you are in the first phase of the low FODMAP diet.
How does the Monash FODMAP team choose which brands to certify?
The certified brands listed in the Monash University FODMAP Diet App approached the Monash FODMAP team to get their products certified.
The FODMAP diet is complicated and our team can’t just look at a product ingredient list and go ‘yes, that’s low FODMAP’. The product needs to go through testing so we can verify that it is low FODMAP.
Most of the time it’s the consumers (that’s you) that contact the brand to ask them if their products are low FODMAP. This starts a conversation around the FODMAP diet and the consumers often ask the brand if they have thought about certifying their products.
Then brands reach out to us and we organise the testing process. We work with lots of different companies from countries around the world. There are no limits to how many products a company can certify or where they need to be based. It’s exciting to see the certification program expanding and more low FODMAP options becoming available globally.
How can our people encourage more companies to certify their products?
We encourage people to message the company directly and request that they would like the product to be tested for FODMAPs by Monash University to make sure the product is suitable for the low FODMAP diet.
Companies often see the benefit of certifying the products as the certification program boosts customer confidence and leads to more sales.
Where do you find a list of Monash certified low FODMAP products?
You can find a list of certified products in the Monash University FODMAP Diet App under the ‘Certified’ area or in the ‘Food Guide’.
Extra Resources
If you’d like to support the amazing work that the Monash FODMAP team does, then please download the Monash University FODMAP Diet App from the apple app store or google play store. The money you pay goes straight back into low FODMAP research, so not only are you helping yourself when you download it, but you are also helping your community.
Also check out monashfodmap.com or alittlebityummy.com if you need more low FODMAP resources.
Final Thoughts
We hope this session has helped you understand the Monash University Low FODMAP Product Certification Program. We’d love you to help us raise awareness of the low FODMAP diet and get more certified products onto the market so you can enjoy more food freedom.
Image credit: A Little Bit Yummy
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