To think gluten free prescriptions should come back?

[Mymapuddlington]

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?!

[quote DameFanny]@Goodiewhemper this is the one I use - www.easypeasyfoodie.com/easy-cheese-soda-bread/

Unless I'm making it for everyone with soup or whatever I generally make a half quantity to eat over 2 days because it's too moreish for me. You can sub in plant milk for dairy, and if you have a problem with yeast use lemon juice.[/quote]
Much appreciated. Thank you.

Is there a GF alternative to marmite? If so, what???

Hampton, marmite is not recommended for Coeliacs
Depends what brand you buy. Tesco and Morrison’s etc do their own brand marmite which doesn’t contain gluten. But my point was that you can replace dairy and nuts easier than you can replace gluten.

Is there a GF alternative to marmite? If so, what???

There are a few. Meridian Yeast Extract (also Asda, Morrison and Sainsbury's own brand as per Coeliac UK)

YABU to think that coeliacs aren’t panic buying. I have 9 in my family and they are just as stupid as the average shopper so now have huge stockpiles of gluten free stuff that will probably expire before they use it. They also have full tanks of petrol.

@Hamtonn I personally found gluten easier to avoid than dairy, whereas (imo) the prize for the all time champion pain in the arse allergy would go to soya.

I have friends who are coeliac. Haven't seen them throughout covid, and wanted to have them round for tea. Done this lots in the past and I get gluten free goodies from my local supermarket to avoid any cross contamination issues. I was surprised last week to see the usual gluten free section was smaller than before.

I thought maybe it had moved and asked a member of staff who told me they had replaced some things with vegan food as it was more popular. I wonder if he was mistaken and it's been more of a supply issue? It was Schar products I was looking for specifically.

I mean it would be ridiculous if that was the case IMO. I assume Schar products aren't manufactured here and might have issues with supply currently.

@Pohtaytoes that’s interesting, the gluten free section has moved to the end aisle and is now the ‘free from’ with mainly vegan chocolate and things here 🤔

[quote Mymapuddlington]@Pohtaytoes that’s interesting, the gluten free section has moved to the end aisle and is now the ‘free from’ with mainly vegan chocolate and things here 🤔[/quote]
Thing they had recently done that annoying supermarket thing of moving all the aisles around. It takes me a while to get my bearings with where things are again, we old age you know! So I thought it was me being a bit daft. It was the Schar pan au chocolat thingies I was after. I might have a look on Ocado next time. I hope it's not a thing though with food for allergies being replaced with vegan stuff instead, although I guess that would make it a bit easier for people with dairy or egg intolerances.

There are all sorts of allergies and intolerances being hit hard by supply chain problems. The big ones aren’t really any more deserving of carve outs than the rare ones. They have just as much of an impact on the individual.

Tracking down the safe version of things I can use has just become a way of life since early 2020 for me.

Mymapuddlington if you can afford to purchase £40 worth of GF products in one go, Sainsbury's will deliver for £1 if you select a saver slot. You can freeze bread if you have a large enough freezer

The loss of gluten free items from the NHS formulary came, if I recall rightly,at the same time as a lot of other "borderline" things were removed - food supplements, some skin creams and so on.
It is a difficult situation. Without doubt there will be some people who suffer as a result but there would be other people who would be harmed if money was diverted to GF prescriptions from other services so how can that be balanced, especially in the current economic climate?
There were always lots of anomalies in prescription of dietary related things too. My teeage DS was originally diagnosed with a rare gut problem when he was very young and his initial list of forbidden foods included gluten, dairy, egg and soya. At the time GF foods were still available on prescription for coeliac patients. The consultant was very apologetic that even though DS had to avoid gluten just as carefully as a child with coeliac disease, and was at at least as much risk from dietary errors she couldn't prescribe anything because he didn't have the "right" diagnosis. Fortunately we could afford it and he can have gluten and soya now which makes life a lot easier, but it was extremely difficult for a while and very expensive.
If food is available on prescription for some conditions but not others how is that fair? Who decides, and where is the line drawn? What other service should be cut to fund it? It would be lovely if everyone on a medically necessary diet could have it prescribed but the cost would surely be enormous.
I think the fairest way might be for it to be tied to free school meals in some way. The poorest families should receive the support they need to feed their children and those with medical dietary needs need extra support. The rest of us probably just have to suck it up unfortunately as the country simply can't afford it.

Yes they should. I’m also coeliac and it’s easy to say buy a bread maker that’s £180 or buy other food etc, but it’s a different situation when you’re on a low income.

The "free from" section being taken over by "vegan" stuff is very much a thing. Particularly during "veganuary". Particularly annoying that so many vegan convenience foods could so easily be gluten free but have unnecessary gluten added.

What other service should be cut to fund it?

I can think of a few, frankly, but that's probably for another thread

but have unnecessary gluten added gluten is cheap, and probably they want to exploit the vegan fad as much as possible before it goes out of fashion

And Christmas, the aisles just shrink ...... 😩🤬🤬🤬

@SuperCaliFragalistic

The "free from" section being taken over by "vegan" stuff is very much a thing. Particularly during "veganuary". Particularly annoying that so many vegan convenience foods could so easily be gluten free but have unnecessary gluten added.

Urgh this, the already very tiny free from freezer section now has all sorts of breadcrumb crusted vegan stuff in

If you buy a packet of doves farm GF bread flour and follow the recipe on the packet it usually works out OK.

@Mumski45

If you buy a packet of doves farm GF bread flour and follow the recipe on the packet it usually works out OK.

Tried it and was inedible. I'm OK at making muggle bread as well. 🤷‍♀️

I find it needs less yeast than in the recipe. It needs 1.5 teaspoons instead of 2.

Tried it and was inedible

GF soda bread is easy to make and tastes good

@SuperCaliFragalistic

The "free from" section being taken over by "vegan" stuff is very much a thing. Particularly during "veganuary". Particularly annoying that so many vegan convenience foods could so easily be gluten free but have unnecessary gluten added.

Infuriating that so much vegan and vegetarian stuff uses gluten for its protein content. Or soya of course.

Yay fake bacon, yay plant based burgers. Oh wait, it's just more tarted up bloody TVP.

Thanks, will try soda bread.

I probably wouldn’t even have the prescription stuff (I am coeliac) but I think it’s shit that a loaf of bread can cost like 70p in some shops whereas gluten free stuff is basically never less than £1.50 AT LEAST.

Not a big deal to lots of people but a dealbreaker for some.

Also gluten free bread is universally disgusting which adds insult to injury.