If you were told that 1 in 100 people in the UK couldn’t consider eating at your restaurant or pub, you would surely want to do something about it. However, that is exactly the case when it comes to hospitality operators providing an offering for those in the UK living with coeliac disease, with many outlets, both chain and independent, rarely providing safe menus or dishes to cater for this growing demographic (Annual increase of over 7% year on year). Considering that it is often the coeliac amongst the group that ultimately chooses the venue due to their condition, the potential loss in trade can be far greater than simply 1 in a 100 people.

Unlike many conditions when it comes to food consumption, coeliac disease is not an allergy or intolerance, it is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks healthy tissue in the small intestine when gluten is digested. This can lead to a range of reactions, some immediate, such as bloating and stomach cramps (to name just a few), through to longer lasting consequences such as nerve damage, malnutrition, diabetes and cancer. As with nut allergies, even a crumb of gluten can trigger a reaction in a Coeliac, so it needs to be taken seriously by operators.

The only solution for those living with coeliac disease is a totally gluten free lifestyle, which means avoiding Barley, Rye, Oats (unless GF), Wheat and Spelt. Unfortunately, whilst this is generally possible at home, it can be a lottery when dining out or socialising. The issue is not just the ability of an operator to offer a gluten free dish, but more importantly, ensuring the dish has not been cross contaminated with gluten from other menu items or utensils. In many cases, it requires a separate allergen preparation area or purchasing wrapped gluten free products from a 3rd party. Even for an operator to be able to mark fries or chips gluten free, it requires them to have a separate fryer that should never be used for breaded products, due to cross contamination.

There are some brands that are starting to understand the benefit of offering a gluten free solution. Costa recently introduced a Gluten Free Mozzarella and Pesto toastie that remains in the packaging throughout the cooking process, eradicating any risk of cross contamination. Pret offer a range of salads and bowls that are gluten free (although not 100% guaranteed), whilst Leon has a wide selection of dishes on their menu and if you advise them on ordering that you are coeliac, then they clean down prep areas and make your dish separately. Others though are less coeliac friendly. Starbucks has nothing more than a gluten free oat bar and whilst Domino's highlight gluten free pizza bases, they warn that these are prepared on exactly the same surface as all their other gluten containing pizzas… Remember how just a crumb can trigger a reaction!

For operators looking for ready to serve gluten free products there are many that have a good offering including Schar, Genius, Freee, Lovemore Foods and Chunk of Devon.

In Europe, the story can be brighter. Whilst McDonalds has a very limited selection of gluten free menu items in the UK, in many countries such as Italy, Hungary and Spain, there is a much wider choice, with even gluten free Schar buns for their burgers. The same can also be said for breakfast choices at European hotels, with many providing a totally separate offering for coeliac customers on request, with even the offer of toast from a designated toaster. In the UK, the focus is generally on highlighting those items that are gluten free from the standard offering, even though a self-serve breakfast buffet can breathe fear into even the bravest of coeliacs owing to the potential mixing of tongs and utensils.

Being able to offer truly gluten free dishes in the hustle and bustle of a busy commercial kitchen can obviously be challenging, yet the possible pay back for those brands that get it right, can be far greater than many appreciate, especially when the coeliac in a party can often be the ultimate decision maker on venue.

For those looking for more details on providing Gluten Free in Foodservice, then Coeliac UK can help, and Beyond Celiac.