Back to Polyols food checker
grouse

grouse

Meat

Is grouse high in polyols?

Polyols status
Safe

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

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

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

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.

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FAQ

Is grouse high in Polyols?

Polyols: low signal for most people.

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

Usually fine in normal portions.

What else should I check?

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