Gluten Free Craze Causing Chaos For the Gluten Intolerant
A leading Irish gluten free food consultant has warned confusion over going free is creating problems for coeliacs! Derek Thompson, Director of Gluten Free Ireland, says he’s seen a huge increase in the number of ‘lifestylers’ opting for free foods unnecessarily in the hope of losing weight, achieving greater energy and clearer skin.
Derek was speaking ahead of Food & Drink Business Europe, which takes place on the 5th of September in the Citywest Convention Centre. Talking about how going gluten free has become a trend, he says: “We recognise four types of Gluten Free Food Consumers and they can be divided into two groups. The first group is people who eat Gluten free food for medical reasons and the second is those who have heard that some celebrity or sports star has adopted the Gluten Free (GF) lifestyle. Lifestylers have helped to drive the demand for GF products which has, in turn, helped Coeliacs and the Gluten Intolerant but, when eating out, they have caused confusion by asking for GF meals. If a chef and his staff have gone out of their way to prepare and present a safe GF meal for a customer who then turns out not to be ‘all that gluten free’ they are not likely to take the same care for the next customer asking for a GF meal. We have even heard of eating venues advertising “gluten free” meals which are not suitable for Coeliacs!”
A gluten-free diet involves excluding foods that contain the protein gluten, including wheat, rye and barley. Avoiding gluten often means giving up traditional breads, cereals, pasta, pizza, and beer. Gluten can also be found in sauces, some foods made with “natural flavorings,” vitamin and mineral supplements, some medications and even toothpaste.
Recent figures from the Coeliac Society of Ireland show 1% of the Irish population suffer from coeliac disease, which equates to 47,500 people. In addition to this, recent Bord Bia research has found that one in five Irish adults are regularly shopping for gluten free products.
Derek also says many people also mistake gluten free products for being lower in fat. “Because they have cut out or reduced consumption of many of the foods we all find fattening they may lose some weight but it’s not because they’re on a ‘Gluten Free’ diet! They have simply reduced their calorie intake by avoiding foods with high calories.”
Derek Thompson, Director of Gluten Free Ireland Ltd will be speaking at Food & Drink Business Europe, which takes place on the 5th of September in the Citywest Convention Centre.
Tickets and entry
Entry to the National Food and Drink Conference and Exhibition is free for a limited time only. You can register at https://www.fooddrinkevent.
CAPTION:
Tina and Derek Thompson from Gluten Free Ireland.
