cocktail sauce
Condiments & Sauces
Is cocktail sauce high in polyols?
Is cocktail sauce high or low in polyols? See its exact rating, how much counts as a portion, and its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility in one place.
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Sensitivity notes
Why polyols food checker matters
Polyols (sugar alcohols) are found naturally in some fruits and vegetables, and are used as artificial sweeteners. They're poorly absorbed and can cause digestive symptoms, especially in IBS sufferers.
- Avoid sugar-free products with sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol
- Stone fruits are naturally high in polyols
- Cooking doesn't reduce polyol content
- Avocado portion size matters - small amounts may be fine
- Cauliflower and mushrooms are common triggers
Sensitivities
What cocktail sauce contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where cocktail sauce fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about cocktail sauce
Cocktail sauce is ketchup dressed up with horseradish and a squeeze of lemon, and it inherits ketchup's problems. The concentrated tomato base makes it a moderate nightshade and moderately histamine-forming, the high-fructose sweetening pushes it high on FODMAPs and moderate on excess fructose, and the fiery horseradish adds pungent mustard-oil compounds on top. That is why the little pot of red sauce beside a shrimp cocktail can bother a sensitive person even when plain seafood is fine: the trigger is the sauce, not the prawn.
Watch for
- Built on concentrated tomato, so it is a moderate nightshade and moderately histamine-forming, the same twin load as ketchup
- Sweetened like ketchup, which makes it high on FODMAPs and moderate on excess fructose, a gut trigger in the amount people spoon over seafood
- Horseradish adds sharp mustard-oil compounds that can sting sinuses and stomach, a separate irritation from the tomato and sugar
- Moderate sulfite and free glutamate from the tomato concentrate and any Worcestershire or additives stirred in
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Polyols Guide
Everything you need to know about polyols sensitivity and smart food choices.
Polyols (sugar alcohols) are found naturally in some fruits and vegetables, and are used as artificial sweeteners. They're poorly absorbed and can cause digestive symptoms, especially in IBS sufferers.
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 Polyols sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in polyols and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to Polyols, consider these strategies:
- 1Avoid sugar-free products with sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol
- 2Stone fruits are naturally high in polyols
- 3Cooking doesn't reduce polyol content
- 4Avocado portion size matters - small amounts may be fine
- 5Cauliflower and mushrooms are common triggers
Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.
Want personalized tracking?
Download Triggerbites to log meals, track symptoms, and discover your unique triggers.
Get the AppFAQ
Is cocktail sauce high in Polyols?
Polyols: moderate signal - portion size matters.
Can I still eat cocktail sauce if I'm sensitive to Polyols?
Try smaller portions and space it out.
What else should I check?
Check AIP, Reflux Diet, and Specific Carbohydrate next for a fuller picture.