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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think gluten free prescriptions should come back?

202 replies

Mymapuddlington · 09/10/2021 21:26

I think I probably am but with all the panic buying people are buying gluten free stuff. I’m diagnosed coeliac and it’s hard enough finding food that isn’t ridiculously expensive never mind when you go to the single shelf in the co op to see it empty. Maybe I’m just hungry?!

OP posts:
Wankerchief · 09/10/2021 21:56

I’m a celiac and no it shouldn’t comeback. Huge waste of nhs money

Alternative to gluten products are abit more pricey but you either pay the premium, make your own or don’t eat it.
There loads of independent online gluten free shops to, just a google away.

BlanketPiggy · 09/10/2021 21:57

Would prescription mean you'd have to pay nearly £10 for a loaf of bread?!

621CustardCream438 · 09/10/2021 21:58

“I just know it used to be on prescription and stopped a few years ago, at least where I am.”

Yes, because gluten free went from being a very niche product to being available in supermarkets. Around here it was taken off alongside things like calpol, headlice treatment and gaviscon - things people can get themselves over the counter. I understand it’s frustrating, but I just don’t think it’s a health issue, or even a government issue to provide you with toast given there’s lots of other foods you could eat. Frustrating, inconvenient, expensive, disappointing yes - but so are lots of things government doesn’t fix for people.

Haudyourwheesht · 09/10/2021 22:00

@Fallagain

You have to ask the question where does it stop. My kids are allergic to dairy, one is also allergic to soya and needs to have one specific product to get enough iodine (although I believe one other new milk has come on the market). She is too young to take calcium supplements. To have a balanced diet she has to have this milk or the other new one which we haven’t tried yet) Should her alternative milk also be on prescription?
Yes
Malin52 · 09/10/2021 22:00

If they have run out of the highly processed GF stuff just buy fresh food? Meat, veggies, dairy.
No I don't think the NHS should be paying for GF jam tarts.

Zeflyinghelmetandzevetcelery · 09/10/2021 22:01

I make gluten free bread in my bread maker, the recipe was in the manual. It comes out like a savoury sponge cake but is lovely as toast. I'm sure there are recipes or mixes out there that will be more like shop bought.

My bread maker is a very old Panasonic, the one with the seed dispenser. It makes nice jam and compote too.

MillyMoo1113 · 09/10/2021 22:01

Are you ok the UK? I can still get my gf stuff on prescription?

Original poster
Mymapuddlington · 09/10/2021 22:02

@DameFanny thank you! Will give it a go Smile

I know iabu everyone don’t worry lol

OP posts:
Dogknowsbest · 09/10/2021 22:04

I sympathise OP. I know everyone says how much more is available nowadays and how much better the products are but it doesn't help if non-coeliacs are buying all the GF stuff. There was hardly anything in my local supermarket the other day where there is usually quite a good supply.

Original poster
Mymapuddlington · 09/10/2021 22:04

@MillyMoo1113 yes I’m, it stopped here a few years ago. I live very rurally and a lot of elderly people here complained at the time. The local co op (the next supermarket is an hour away) usually has gluten free bread but they haven’t for a while now.
If I get the fancy bread maker I’ll be taking loaves to all the gluten free elderly here lol

OP posts:
Italiandreams · 09/10/2021 22:07

You’re pregnant, you can be as unreasonable as you like about it Wink

Original poster
Mymapuddlington · 09/10/2021 22:09

Thank you @Italiandreams this seems to be such a difficult pregnancy, my first I had no symptoms or cravings and just floated through it. This one I’ve had extreme sickness, lost over a stone, craving chicken and gluten, two things I can’t eat 😂

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 09/10/2021 22:11

Have you got a morrisons or amazon prime? They have been great keeping supplies going during the pandemic

INeedNewShoes · 09/10/2021 22:14

Just make your own bread! You don't need a machine.

As someone with life threatening allergies that happen not to be to gluten but are equally difficult to navigate, I've always been baffled that gluten free foods were singled out for special support.

I just have to cook the vast majority of things I eat from scratch. I also can't eat the vast majority of shop-bought bread/cakes/biscuits and since I had DD I've been paying through the nose for dairy free milk as she has a dairy allergy.

I don't think 'free from' foods should be paid for by the NHS. They have much bigger fish to fry when we can just choose to eat different foods instead of replicas.

PeachesPumpkin · 09/10/2021 22:14

GF food is 3 to 4 times more expensive than muggle food.
I think bread and pasta are a staple for most people so it’s unreasonable for people to say just eat potatoes.
I also think it’s unreasonable to say just make your own bread (as the flour is crazy expensive) and again it’s unreasonable to say don’t buy any treats like biscuits - I think the majority of muggles buy them.
It’s all very well for well off people to say “just buy it yourself” but some people are counting every single penny and paying so much more for basic products like bread, pasta and flour can tip many Coeliacs into debt.
I think what should happen is a means tested voucher for GF products, like that which is given in some European countries.

Also commenting on another previous point but we also really struggled in the first lockdown when all the bloody muggles bought up all the GF bread, pasta and flour as it was the last stuff left, and then threw it away as they didn’t like it. It made my blood boil.

INeedNewShoes · 09/10/2021 22:18

Muggles Confused At best you're making a prat of yourself; at worst you're being unnecessarily divisive!

Muggles... ffs. You're not that special you know!

Goawayangryman · 09/10/2021 22:19

But it is really easy to buy gluten free food. No-one actually needs bread or shop-bought biscuits. Meat, veg, tofu, gluten-free pulses, herbs, spices, yogurt, etc etc. All perfectly fine. Doesn't need prescribed.

Ellabella222 · 09/10/2021 22:20

Someone on here said it’s not a health issue… it really is. There’s an argument against prescribing. My main issue though is that GF stuff is generally twice the price of normal food. Must be tricky if you are skint.

Postdatedpandemic · 09/10/2021 22:23

Morrisons gf pasta is 60p for 500g

Any shortages are because we chose to feck up our supply lines of stuff made on mainland Europe

Goawayangryman · 09/10/2021 22:23

It's really not unreasonable to say but need to buy biscuits or bread. I buy neither of these as I just don't eat them much. Pasta didn't exist on our shelves until the 1980s where I lived. Bread was a staple, yes, but no-one will drop down cos they don't have bread. I mean ideally everyone should have a choice of such products but such is life....

Original poster
Mymapuddlington · 09/10/2021 22:24

Nobody needs bread or biscuits but little things like a biscuit with your cuppa is nice!

OP posts:
Goawayangryman · 09/10/2021 22:24

Say no need....

Yubaba · 09/10/2021 22:25

GF bread costs a fortune on the NHS, the fresh one is a minimum order of 8 loaves and costs £28 per order!
Most areas have banned it now, our area only supplies bread and flour to children under 18, everyone else has to buy it.

Goawayangryman · 09/10/2021 22:28

And it tastes like absolute shite...