Monash University Low FODMAP diet app

This app offers accurate detailed information about the FODMAP diet, searchable foods for FODMAP content, low FODMAP recipe ideas, integrated shopping list, symptom diary, and support through the “three step FODMAP diet.”

• The “3-step FODMAP diet” comprises Step 1 – low FODMAP, step 2 – FODMAP reintroduction, Step 3 – FODMAP personalisation.
• Foods are listed using a traffic light system and according to serving sizes.
• Red foods are high in FODMAPs and should be avoided, orange foods are moderate in FODMAPs and may be tolerated by some people while green foods are low in FODMAPs and are safe for consumption.
• The specific food serving sizes in the app are helpful to work out how much food can be safely consumed.
• The app also contains other information about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and recipes and meal ideas to help people with IBS.

 For the complete app description, go to Google Play(external link) (android), iTunes(external link) or the app website(external link) and for a detailed review, see reviews below.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Jeremy Steinberg, GP, FRNZCGP
Date of review: May 2022
Platform: Android
Version: 3.0.9
Comments: I think this is really the “gold standard” app for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who would like to try the low FODMAP diet. Users can look up the FODMAP content of different foods, find recipe ideas, learn about irritable bowel syndrome and the low FODMAP diet, and track symptoms. The app helps you through a “three step low FODMAP diet”: Step 1 – low FODMAP, step 2 – FODMAP reintroduction, Step 3 – FODMAP personalisation. Previous versions only helped with step 1, so steps 2 and 3 are a welcome addition. While this is a paid app it is of very high quality. It was developed by the research team at Monash University, the pioneers of the diet, and the information is very accurate. It is extremely important to thoroughly read the written information to learn about the diet. The app does appropriately recommend dietitian input, and presents a list of New Zealand dieticians, but this is a luxury few would be able to afford in New Zealand. More information and recipe ideas are available on their blog.(external link)(external link) 
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: No issues of concern. Option to filter for foods available in New Zealand (manual restart of the app is required)

Clinical review

Reviewer: Jeremy Steinberg, GP, FRNZCGP
Date of review: March 2018
Platform: Android
Version: 2.0.5
Comments: This app is useful for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who would like to try the low FODMAP diet. Users can look up the FODMAP content of different foods, find recipe ideas, learn about irritable bowel syndrome and the low FODMAP diet, track symptoms and analyse the benefit of a one week trial of the diet. While this is a paid app, it is of very high quality and in my opinion is a must have for those trialling a low FODMAP diet. It was developed by the research team at Monash University, the pioneers of the diet. It offers comprehensive information about the diet, searchable foods for FODMAP content, low FODMAP recipe ideas, integrated shopping list and a one week trial journaling section. It is extremely important to thoroughly read the about section to learn about the diet. The app does appropriately recommend dietitian input after the one week trial, but this is a luxury few would be able to afford in New Zealand. The app would be more helpful if you could do journaling for a longer period and if it had a re-challenge section. There are also some aspects of the searchable food section that could be improved, and the recipe section probably needs updating. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be very actively improved - at the time of review the last update was six months ago (and this was technical not content related). More information and recipe ideas are available on their blog: https://www.monashfodmap.com/blog.
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: No issues of concern.