Back to GOS food checker
grouse

grouse

Meat

Is grouse high in gos?

GOS status
Safe

Find out whether grouse is high or low in gos, see its exact rating, and check its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility all in one place.

Sensitivity notes

Why gos food checker matters

Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are carbohydrates found mainly in legumes and some vegetables. They're a FODMAP that can ferment in the gut, causing bloating and discomfort in sensitive people.

  • Canned and rinsed legumes are lower in GOS than dried
  • Start with smaller portions and build up tolerance
  • Some people find beano-type enzymes helpful

Triggers

HistamineSafe
Histamine LiberatorsSafe
FODMAPsSafe
FructansSafe
GOSSafe
FructoseSafe
PolyolsSafe
GlutenSafe
LactoseSafe
Dairy ProteinsSafe
NightshadesSafe
SalicylatesSafe
OxalatesSafe
NickelSafe
SulfitesSafe
NitritesSafe
GlutamatesSafe
TyramineSafe
CaffeineSafe
LectinSafe
Low FermentationSafe

Diets

GlutenFit
InflammationFit
VeganAvoid
VegetarianAvoid
Paleo AIPFit
MediterraneanAvoid
DASH DietFit
EoE CompatibleFit
FODMAPsFit
Low FermentationFit
Priority ingredient notes

Serving size, prep, and portion notes for grouse

Grouse is chemically one of the quietest ingredients in this database. It is graded A on histamine, histamine liberation, tyramine, free glutamate, salicylate, oxalate, nickel, sulfite, nitrite, gluten, lactose, nightshade and every FODMAP group, and because it is a bird it carries no alpha-gal, so it stays available to people who have lost mammalian meat to a tick bite. What deserves a warning on a grouse page is not a food chemical at all. Red grouse cannot be farmed, so every bird on a plate was shot, and shot with lead: not only the pellets you can find with your fingers, but fine fragments that spread through the flesh around them.

Watch for

Lead is the real issue with shot game birds. UK surveys have repeatedly found lead concentrations in game bird meat well above the maximum levels that apply to other meats, and the Food Standards Agency advises frequent eaters of lead-shot game, particularly children, pregnant women and women trying to conceive, to cut down. Picking out the visible pellets does not remove the fragments. / This is a frequency question rather than a one-meal question. There is no threshold below which lead is considered beneficial, so the advice is about how often game is on your table, not about whether a single grouse dinner is dangerous. / Steel and bismuth shot solve it, and some estates and retailers have moved to non-lead ammunition. It is worth asking, because it is the only variable here you can actually change. / The clean amine grade describes a fresh bird. Grouse is traditionally hung for days to develop its flavour, and hanging is precisely how any meat accumulates histamine and tyramine. If well-hung game bothers you and fresh game does not, you are describing amines rather than a species reaction. / The traditional plate carries more than the bird does. Grouse is served with bread sauce made from milk, onion and cloves, with bacon laid over the breast, game chips and a redcurrant or red wine gravy. That combination brings lactose, fructans, nitrites and sulfites to a meal whose main ingredient has none of them.

Learn More

GOS Guide

Everything you need to know about gos sensitivity and smart food choices.

Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are carbohydrates found mainly in legumes and some vegetables. They're a FODMAP that can ferment in the gut, causing bloating and discomfort in sensitive people.

Sensitivity varies widely. What triggers one person may be fine for another. Track your reactions to find your personal threshold.

These foods are generally well-tolerated for GOS sensitivity:

View all safe options

These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:

If you're sensitive to GOS, consider these strategies:

  • 1Canned and rinsed legumes are lower in GOS than dried
  • 2Start with smaller portions and build up tolerance
  • 3Some people find beano-type enzymes helpful
  • 4Firm tofu is lower in GOS than silken tofu
  • 5Sprouted legumes may be better tolerated

Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.

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FAQ

Is grouse high in GOS?

GOS: low signal for most people.

Can I still eat grouse if I'm sensitive to GOS?

Usually fine in normal portions.

What else should I check?

Check Vegan, Vegetarian, and Mediterranean next for a fuller picture.