Tips for gluten and wheat allergic consumers
September 3, 2009
Gluten and wheat are well-known to be the most common food allergens with dairy, eggs, fish, nuts, peanuts, seafood and soya. To facilitate shopping with a gluten and wheat allergies, here are some helpful tips for allergic sufferers who wish to purchase safe products in stores and online.
The definition of gluten is simple because it is described as the protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats, and all other ingredients derived from these grains*. Therefore, allergic sufferers should try to avoid any aliments which may contains those grains in breakfast cereals, baked goods (cakes, cookies, bread, etc.), pastas, pizzas, and more. The safest options for these consumers are to buy fresh and non-transformed products such as fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, lentils and diaries.
Only few years ago, gluten and wheat free products were not stocked on supermarkets shelves, but could only be purchased in health food stores, at very expensive prices. Today, the market is more aware of the raise of food allergies, and supermarkets are now displaying a line of specialized products stored in specific alleys under the health and organic goods. More recently, companies have started to produce goods without gluten and wheat. These benefits gain on a selected clientele who can now eat specific aliments which are not longer dangerous for their health. For example, by modifying the main ingredients in recipes with flour blend such as rice flour, corn flour, potato flour, tapioca flour, buckwheat flour, etc. sufferers can now buy goods with the specific mention of gluten and wheat free. Thankfully, the consumers have now a better choice and variety of products available to eat safely without experimenting discomfort due to allergic reactions and symptoms. Even if these products are not always available in your local supermarkets, just by one click, they can be ordered online via the companies' website, and receive in the comfort of your home, for everyone's taste!
Sources:
*'Catering for gluten free guests', Healthy & Heart Wise, Volume 39, p. 37
www. heartwise.com.au