Catering for customers with IBS: a guide for hospitality operators

by Gaelle Lavastre

April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month. IBS affects up to 15% of the population, many of which find it difficult to eat out due to the limited food options available.

By catering to people with IBS, food operators can improve customer satisfaction and attract a wider customer base. This can help to increase business and generate positive reviews. By providing IBS-friendly options, food operators can help promote the health and well-being of their customers.

What is IBS?

Those who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome can experience a significant reduction in their quality of life. IBS affects the digestive system, leading to a range of symptoms including stomach cramps, bloating, constipation, and diarrhoea. Although the cause of IBS remains unknown, stress and anxiety are commonly associated with the condition.

Food is a crucial trigger for symptoms, and people with IBS often avoid specific ingredients. Dining out can be stressful for those with IBS, as they may need to avoid certain foods or risk triggering symptoms. Unfortunately, many individuals with IBS avoid eating out altogether due to the limited options available to them.

How to create IBS-friendly dishes

Here are a few things you can do as a caterer to accommodate people with IBS:

Create IBS-friendly dishes: It is possible to cater to people suffering from IBS by preparing dishes containing only low FODMAP ingredients. Keep reading to find out how Pi, Pelican’s e-procurement system, can help you develop those dishes.
Label IBS-friendly dishes: Just like for other dietary requirements, clearly labelling IBS-friendly dishes can help customers identify suitable food items.
Train staff: Educating your staff about high and low FODMAP foods can enable them to advise customers effectively.
Provide ingredient lists: Including a list of ingredients for each dish can help people with IBS assess which foods they can consume. Note that trigger foods can vary from person to person. Keep reading to find out how Pi, Pelican’s e-procurement system, can help you communicate those ingredients with customers.

Pelican’s top tips to build IBS-friendly recipes

Familiarise yourself and your staff with high and low FODMAP foods to easily identify ingredients you should avoid using
Stay away from processed food, and opt for raw ingredients instead
Use Piranha, our Pi Management system to create your dishes with confidence. Piranha will provide you with a list of ingredients and allergens, as well as nutritional and cost information for every meal on your menu
Use our Food Checker tool (part of our Pi system), to easily share information about the food you serve and help your customers make safe, informed choices quickly and easily with a QR code! Watch this quick video to find out more: https://youtu.be/buNpaFv_ETU

Help make a difference

By catering for people with IBS, you can really help that community feel seen. With the growing awareness of IBS, catering for people with this condition shows that you are mindful of dietary requirements and are willing to cater to a wide range of customers.

Catering for people with IBS is not only considerate, but it can also give you a competitive advantage. Everyone can enjoy low FODMAP dishes and they can be great a way to showcase your culinary skills by providing delicious and creative options!

We are here to help!

Chat with our team or book your demo to find out how our Pi system can manage your menus and create dishes that meet your customers’ allergen, nutritional or any other dietary requirements with ease!

Email us today at hello@pelicanprocurement.co.uk.