Last Updated on September 9, 2023 by Aaron
FODMAPs are types of carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and can trigger symptoms in people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The Low FODMAP diet is used to identify which FODMAPs a person might be sensitive to.
When it comes to cheeses, many aged cheeses are considered low in lactose, which is one of the FODMAPs. And the primary FODMAP of concern would typically be lactose. Gorgonzola is a type of blue cheese, and aged cheese like this is typically considered to have lower lactose content than fresh cheeses. The bacteria involved in the cheese-making process consume much of the lactose during fermentation.
That being said, while aged cheeses like Gorgonzola may be lower in lactose, they might not be completely lactose-free. Study (1) indicates that gorgonzola cheese is suitable for a low-lactose diet aimed at addressing children’s carbohydrate intolerance. It essentially contains no lactose, with 0g per 100g serving.
Another study (2) analyzed Italian DOP dolce Gorgonzola aged 3-4 months from 26 different producers. Only one out of the 26 samples showed a trace amount of lactose, measuring 0.063g per 100g serving.
However, everyone’s tolerance to foods can vary, and portion size also plays a significant role in whether a food might trigger symptoms. A small amount of gorgonzola might be tolerable for some people with IBS, while others might react even to tiny amounts.
When I refer to the Monash app (Monash University FODMAP diet), here’s what I’ve got:
I searched for gorgonzola, blue cheese, and several similar cheeses in the app but found no results, suggesting they haven’t been tested yet. For those unfamiliar, this app is one of the most trusted sources for FODMAP content in foods. I’ll keep an eye out for updates.
