malt syrup
Sweeteners
Is malt syrup high in polyols?
Is malt syrup 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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Compare malt syrup across criteria
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 malt syrup contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where malt syrup fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about malt syrup
Malt syrup is made by sprouting barley, letting its own enzymes convert the starch, then boiling the liquid down to a dark, molasses-like sweetener. That barley origin is the whole story: it is graded E for gluten, making it one of the very few sweeteners that is not gluten free. This is an under-known trap, because people who read every bread label carefully will pour malt syrup on a bagel or find it listed on a cereal box under barley malt extract or barley malt flavouring without registering it as wheat family. It is also graded E for fructans, again from the barley. Chemically it is mostly maltose, which is two glucose units, so unlike honey or high fructose corn syrup it barely registers for excess fructose at B.
Watch for
- Gluten E.Barley malt syrup contains gluten and is not safe on a coeliac diet, no matter how the label is worded
- Fructans E and overall FODMAPs D, both inherited from barley.This is the highest fructan grade among common sweeteners
- It hides under several names on ingredient lists: malt syrup, malt extract, barley malt, barley malt extract and barley malt flavouring all trace back to the same grain
- SIBO grade of D.A concentrated fermentable sugar syrup is exactly the substrate small intestinal overgrowth thrives on
- Moderate nickel at C, worth noting if you have systemic nickel allergy and are already counting grain sources
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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 malt syrup high in Polyols?
Polyols: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat malt syrup if I'm sensitive to Polyols?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Fructans, Gluten, and AIP next for a fuller picture.