In a recent episode of Channel Ten's Shark Tank, entrepreneur Steve Baxter felt compelled to share the struggles he — and those within smelling distance — faced when he ate onions and cherries, a problem he thought was "probably called the human condition".
Mr Baxter's cynicism is hard to stomach. FODMAPs are a recently identified category of sugars found in many foods, so although hard to find in the supermarket, they actually do exist. Experts say that the evidence on the existence and effects of FODMAPs is accepted internationally. According to research, FODMAPs can exacerbate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, a medically recognised and painful condition with symptoms that go beyond what Mr Baxter refers to as "the human condition". On the issue of how many Australians might be affected, Mr Baxter was right to trust his gut. The research team behind the low FODMAP diet say the number of people with irritable bowel syndrome is closer to 15 per cent of the population. The pressing question might be: should Mr Baxter cut back on onions and cherries? Maybe, but Fact Check recommends he consult a medical expert.
Fact check: Is scepticism about FODMAPs causing gut problems justified?
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