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sweet and sour sauce

sweet and sour sauce

Condiments & Sauces

Is sweet and sour sauce high in polyols?

Polyols status
Low

Is sweet and sour 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.

Related checkers

Compare sweet and sour sauce 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 sweet and sour sauce contains

FODMAPs

FODMAPsHigh
FructansHigh
GOSLow
FructoseModerate
PolyolsLow
LactoseSafe

Histamine & Amines

HistamineModerate
Histamine LiberatorsModerate
TyramineModerate

Plant compounds

SalicylatesModerate
OxalatesLow
LectinModerate
NightshadesModerate

Irritants

CaffeineSafe
AlcoholSafe
Spicy FoodsSafe
Acidic FoodsModerate

Additives

SulfitesModerate
NitritesSafe
GlutamatesModerate

Allergens

Dairy ProteinsSafe
GlutenModerate
EggSafe
PeanutSafe
Tree NutsSafe
SoySafe
FishSafe
CrustaceansSafe
MolluscsSafe
SesameSafe
CeleryLow
MustardSafe
LupinSafe
Alpha-galSafe
NickelLow

Diet fit

Where sweet and sour sauce fits

Therapeutic diets

Low HistamineCheck
Low SalicylateCheck
Low FermentationHigh
EoE CompatibleCheck
AIPAvoid
InflammationAvoid
Reflux DietAvoid
Specific CarbohydrateAvoid
Low FibreFit
Gastroparesis DietFit

Lifestyle diets

VeganCheck
VegetarianFit
PescatarianFit
MediterraneanAvoid
DASH DietAvoid
PaleoAvoid
Whole30Avoid
KetoAvoid
Low-carbAvoid

Religious diets

HalalFit
KosherCheck
Hindu (no beef)Fit
JainAvoid
Buddhist VegetarianAvoid
Orthodox FastingFit
Ingredient notes

What to know about sweet and sour sauce

Sweet and sour sauce is the classic takeout glaze of pineapple, sugar and vinegar, often with a little onion, and that combination makes it high FODMAP on two fronts. Fructans are graded D and there is moderate excess fructose from the pineapple and added sugar, so the sauce can trigger bloating and loose stools even when the meat and rice it coats are fine. It also scores as pro-inflammatory thanks to all that sugar.

Watch for

  • High in fructans (grade D), so onion in the recipe is a hidden FODMAP driver behind the sweetness
  • Moderate excess fructose from the pineapple and sugar, a trigger if you malabsorb fructose
  • Very sugar heavy, which is why it grades pro-inflammatory and poorly for DASH and Mediterranean eating
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.

Want personalized tracking?

Download Triggerbites to log meals, track symptoms, and discover your unique triggers.

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FAQ

Is sweet and sour sauce high in Polyols?

Polyols: moderate signal - portion size matters.

Can I still eat sweet and sour sauce if I'm sensitive to Polyols?

Try smaller portions and space it out.

What else should I check?

Check Inflammation, AIP, and Reflux Diet next for a fuller picture.