If you or someone you love has been recently diagnosed with coeliac disease, you could be eligible to receive gluten free foods on prescription. Simply select your country of residence, and, if you live in England, fill in your postcode to check if your area is prescribing.
Your country is prescribing gluten free foods*. Request your Glutafin Taster Box by clicking the button below to sign up.
* Please note: local policies are constantly updated, and issuing a prescription is at the discretion of your GP.
When you have been diagnosed with coeliac disease, it is important that you follow a strict gluten free diet. That means checking the labels on many of the products you buy in the supermarket as well as your lunchtime sandwich from the deli.
But what are the labelling rules on gluten free products in the UK and what should you be looking for on the label?
Under UK law, a product can only be labelled gluten free if it contains 20 parts per million (20ppm) of gluten or less. That’s as little as 0.02g per kilo. This is the internationally agreed safe level that people with coeliac disease can consume without causing symptoms or damage to their gut. This definition applies to all packaged food, as well as gluten free products on prescription from companies like Glutafin.
This covers foods which contain between 20ppm and 100ppm of gluten. You will not usually find these foods in the UK, but you may see them in European supermarkets when you are shopping on holiday.
Although this is still a very small amount of gluten, these foods are generally aimed at people with gluten sensitivity. They are not considered safe if you have coeliac disease.
All packaged food sold in the UK must have ingredients listed on the label in a clear, accurate and unambiguous way. There are two main ways to read food labels and spot gluten in these ingredient lists:
The UK law on food labelling was extended in 2021 to include prepacked food for direct sale, that is food made and packaged on the premises, such as take-away sandwiches and salad bowls. This extension is known as ‘Natasha’s Law’.
If food is sold without packaging, such as bakery items or self-serve salad bowls, then allergen information must be available and accessible for the consumer at the point of sale. This can either be provided as written information or with clear signposting to where this information can be found, e.g. a notice telling customers to ask a member of staff for information regarding allergens.
Reading ingredient lists to identify gluten free products can be time-consuming and difficult when you are in the middle of your ‘big shop ’. The crossed grain symbol, introduced by Coeliac UK in the 1970’s, can make things easier. The symbol gives you complete reassurance that the product has been thoroughly tested and certified as gluten free, including independent audits of production methods. Companies must purchase the right to use this symbol, so be aware that not all gluten free foods will carry this.
Sometimes, you will find products that are labelled with warnings, such as ‘may contain traces of gluten’ or ‘made in a factory that processes wheat’. This is known as ‘alibi labelling’ and is used for foods that don’t include gluten within their ingredients, but which may have been contaminated during the production process.
It’s important to take these warnings seriously and avoid them when you are following a gluten free diet. If you are in any doubt regarding the suitability of a product, contact the manufacturer for more information.
All Glutafin prescription foods are guaranteed gluten free products, so you can order with complete confidence and enjoy safe and tasty food delivered direct to your pharmacy (availability varies depending on where you live).
To find out more, talk to your GP or dietitian today about availability in your area. If you do qualify, you can try our gluten free products for yourself by registering for your free Glutafin Taster Box today.
When it comes to shopping for your gluten free diet, the bottom line is that unless you are 100% sure that what you are buying is a gluten free product, then it is better to be safe than sorry.
With a little care and attention, you can shop safely and confidently, and enjoy a wide variety of gluten free products that will keep you healthy and symptom-free.
Q. Are oats considered gluten-free in the UK?
A. No. Oats are often cross-contaminated with wheat, barley, or rye during farming, milling and processing. As a result, oats can only be labelled gluten-free if they have been specially produced to avoid cross-contamination and tested to contain less than 20ppm of gluten.
Q. What is the definition of gluten free in the UK?
A. 20ppm of gluten or less is the legal limit for a product to be considered gluten free under UK and EU law. This represents 0.02g per kg. This level is considered safe for coeliacs to consume.
Q. What does ‘very low gluten’ mean on a label?
A. 21ppm to 100ppm of gluten is known as ‘very low gluten’. This label is rarely found on UK products but may be seen on the continent. Very low gluten products are unsuitable for people with coeliac disease.
Q. Do vegan products automatically qualify as gluten-free?
A. No, there is not an automatic correlation between vegan and gluten free. Vegan products may still contain wheat, barley, rye or products derived from them. Always check the label to ensure the product is gluten-free.
If you or someone you love has been recently diagnosed with coeliac disease, you could be eligible to receive gluten free foods on prescription. Simply select your country of residence, and, if you live in England, fill in your postcode to check if your area is prescribing.
Your country is prescribing gluten free foods*. Request your Glutafin Taster Box by clicking the button below to sign up.
* Please note: local policies are constantly updated, and issuing a prescription is at the discretion of your GP.
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