What should you know about a sorbitol intolerance food list?

Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol found naturally in some fruits and added to some sugar-free sweets, chewing gum, drinks and medicines. When the small intestine does not absorb it well, extra sorbitol can draw water into the bowel and be fermented by gut bacteria. This may lead to bloating, wind, abdominal discomfort or diarrhoea. Sensitivity varies: a food may be tolerated in a small portion but cause symptoms in a larger one. Intolerance is different from an immediate food allergy.

Read ingredient labels for sorbitol and codes such as E420, and record the food, portion, timing and symptoms in a diary. Common sources include stone fruits such as plums, cherries and peaches, some dried fruit, and sugar-free products. Do not remove a long list of foods without a plan; restriction can make meals less varied. Reintroduce foods gradually when symptoms are settled, or work with a nutrition counsellor to protect fibre and nutrient intake. Testing may help when the diagnosis is uncertain.

Arrange medical advice if diarrhoea persists, symptoms wake you at night, or you are losing weight, becoming dehydrated or avoiding many foods. Seek urgent help for severe abdominal pain, blood in the stool, fainting, confusion or inability to keep fluids down. These features need assessment rather than being assumed to come from sorbitol. A clinician can also consider conditions that mimic food intolerance.

Ask whether your symptoms fit food intolerance, which ingredients to trial removing, how to reintroduce them, whether testing is useful, and how to maintain a balanced diet.