Coeliac disease: High cost of gluten-free food labelled ‘unfair’

It’s “not fair” that people who need gluten-free food for health reasons have to pay more for their essentials, according to a woman with coeliac disease.

Cerys Davage, 22, said because there was no specific treatment for the condition, the only way to cope was for her to follow a strict gluten-free diet – but that came with an additional cost.

A report by charity Coeliac UK found sufferers had been paying about 35% more for their weekly shop during the cost of living crisis.

Coeliac disease causes symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea and is caused by an abnormal immune system reaction to the protein gluten which is found in foods such as bread, pasta, cereals and biscuits.

Cerys, whose two sisters sisters Cadi and Beca also have the condition, said being able to get some gluten-free food on prescription in Wales had been a big financial help for their family.

“The food is so much more expensive and especially in the cost of living crisis it’s not fair for people who still need the nutrition and have to pay extra,” she told BBC Cymru Fyw.

She said she tried to “avoid buying things like gluten-free bread or pasta all the time” to keep costs down.

Cerys was diagnosed with coeliac disease at the age of seven and had trouble eating since a baby as some foods made her “feel sick”.

The Coeliac UK report said seven in 10 people found shopping for gluten-free food “adversely affects their quality of life” due to cost and availability of products.

It said the average cost of gluten-free food compared to food with gluten gram-for-gram between March 2022 to March 2024 showed loaves of bread were 4.5 times more expensive, bread rolls 3.1 times more costly, and plain flour, pasta and cereals were twice as expensive.

“Being able to get the necessary foods on prescription has been so important to us and has saved our family a lot of money to keep us healthy,” said Cerys.

“We have been very lucky to have quite basic but essential things.”

Maisy Williams, 23, from Abergavenny, said completing her weekly shopping was expensive and time-consuming since she was diagnosed with the condition in 2018, following a period of feeling depressed, tired and losing weight.

Although she was able to get some gluten-free food prescription, she said “sometimes you still have to go to five different supermarkets because the thing you want isn’t there”.

“People don’t understand how serious it can be… but also mentally, it has made me more anxious about eating out, I don’t like the attention,” added Maisy.