My first Stossel TV Fellow, Trevor Kraus, initiated this column.
Our video version is called “Freshly Cooked Censorship: Why You Can’t Put ‘Low FODMAP’ on Food Labels.”
Kraus reports that rigid government rules prevent food producers from informing you about useful foods, like low-FODMAP foods.
FODMAP is an acronym for sugars prevalent in garlic, onion, apples, honey and many other foods. Lots of Americans have an intolerance to FODMAPs. For a few, it can be deadly.
Ketan Vakil, who’s FODMAP intolerant himself, started a company that sells low-FODMAP foods like bone broths, garlic chive salt and green onion powder — all with fewer of the ingredients that can cause stomach problems.
“I decided to replace those ingredients with other things that taste great, but don’t cause stomach symptoms,” says Vakil. “We use the tops of scallions, just the green parts. They taste like onion. Not the exact flavor, but really similar. That part of the plant is lower in FODMAPs.”
Sounds great.
But stupidly, the government won’t let him say “low-FODMAP” on his labels.
It’s not because Vakil is lying about ingredients or their usefulness. He’s right in saying…
Read the full article here