First, it’s important to know what FODMAPs are.

The acronym stands for fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides, and polyols. These are short-chain carbs that can be hard to digest for some. FODMAPs are more likely to reach the end of your intestine, where you’ll find most of your gut bacteria.

The gut bacteria munch on the carbs, and as a result, they can start producing heightened levels of gas hydrogen, possibly leading to digestive issues in IBS patients. This may cause your intestine to expand, resulting in the typical IBS symptoms, such as pain and bloating.

A low FODMAP diet—one that doesn’t include high FODMAP ingredients like certain fruits, vegetables, dairy, cereals, and sweeteners—may help IBS patients deal with their symptoms.

The low FODMAP diet put together by Monash University is specifically designed for those who have been medically diagnosed with IBS. Please note that other similar gastrointestinal disorders, such as coeliac disease and endometriosis do not fall into this category.

People with IBS have to be extremely careful about the kinds of foods that go into their bodies. Foods that contain high FODMAP levels, such as dairy and gluten, may contribute negatively to IBS, but what about tomatoes? Are tomatoes FODMAP friendly?

We’ve got excellent news for IBS patients who can’t stop munching on the bright-red fruit!

Yes! Tomatoes are indeed FODMAP-friendly!

However, IBS patients should still be wary of tomatoes and tomato-based products.

You see, while tomatoes can be FODMAP friendly, that doesn’t mean those with digestive disorders should pick them off the vine and begin munching away. Tomatoes contain fructose, which is a FODMAP.

So, while tomatoes can be FODMAP friendly, IBS patients may want to refrain from consuming more than one small tomato per serving, just to be on the safe side.

Alright, so we’ve established that tomatoes, or at least tiny quantities of tomatoes, are FODMAP friendly. But what about products like canned tomatoes and ketchup? Are these products containing tomato, low FODMAP?

Again, the answer to this question is “Yes!”

But does that mean you should drown your french fries in ketchup, your steaks in A1 sauce, and eat Bolognese sauce like there’s no tomorrow?

Of course, not. After all, we hope there will be a tomorrow, right?

What it boils down to is portion size. Low FODMAP foods are only low FODMAP if you don’t overindulge. 2 tablespoons of BBQ sauce or ketchup can be fine, but if you go overboard, your gut (and your underpants) may be in trouble.

So, to address the store-bought stuff: is tomato sauce low FODMAP? And are canned tomatoes low FODMAP? They certainly can be if they don’t contain ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup, onions, and garlic, which fall in the high FODMAP category. Your best bet is to avoid these types of condiments and sauces or to prepare your own meals and ingredients.

Alright, so we’ve established that tomatoes, or at least tiny quantities of tomatoes, are FODMAP friendly. But what about products like canned tomatoes and ketchup? Are these products containing tomato, low FODMAP?

Again, the answer to this question is “Yes!”

But does that mean you should drown your french fries in ketchup, your steaks in A1 sauce, and eat Bolognese sauce like there’s no tomorrow?

Of course, not. After all, we hope there will be a tomorrow, right?

What it boils down to is portion size. Low FODMAP foods are only low FODMAP if you don’t overindulge. 2 tablespoons of BBQ sauce or ketchup can be fine, but if you go overboard, your gut (and your underpants) may be in trouble.

Monash University, the leader of FODMAP research, has tested several types of tomato-based products and concluded the following portion sizes to be ideal:

• Canned tomatoes: 92 g per serving
• Ketchup: 13 g per serving (unsweetened only)
• Tomato paste: 28 g per serving
• Tomato sauce: 13 g per serving

The thing about tomato-based products is that while the tomato content may not be inherently destructive toward your digestive tract, at least in small amounts, the other ingredients may be.

So, to address the store-bought stuff: is tomato sauce low FODMAP? And are canned tomatoes low FODMAP? They certainly can be if they don’t contain ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup, onions, and garlic, which fall in the high FODMAP category. Your best bet is to avoid these types of condiments and sauces or to prepare your own meals and ingredients.

So, to put the question of “are tomatoes low FODMAP?” to rest, yes, they are, but IBS patients may still tolerate tomatoes and certain tomato-based products in tiny quantities per serving.

What some medical experts suggest to their IBS patients is to eliminate certain foods from their diets for a short period of time. For instance, try refraining from eating tomatoes completely for a week or two. You can incorporate tomatoes into your diet after the test period to see how your body responds.

If you think you suffer from IBS, you should seek advice from a trained medical professional to determine whether or not you need to pay close attention to your FODMAP intake.