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Original poster

Vegan is everywhere which is great but what about gluten free?

55 replies

Mommybearx · 29/01/2021 08:13

I’ve seen greggs do vegan, even Krispy Kreme a now do vegan doughnuts.. it frustrates me that these companies don’t care about gluten free. The excuse was always because of contamination but surely making it dairy and egg free is the same?

Worst thing is I’m gluten free due to celiac and egg free and most vegan things have wheat in.

This is just a rant Angry

OP posts:
FuckOffBorisYouTwat · 29/01/2021 08:15

It's a pain but to create GF is harder as flour gets everywhere so need a separate place to make.

RandomGrammarPun · 29/01/2021 08:18

I guess vegan is easier because consumers will be less bothered about cross-contamination, which could be life or death for an allergy sufferer.

However, it is frustrating as someone with a gf, dairy free family member that all the places which used to have a gf df menu have swapped that for a vegan one, which is a lifestyle or moral choice, not a health necessity.

PinkyU · 29/01/2021 08:20

People are mainly vegan due to ethical reasons as opposed to (solely) health reasons, so whilst it’s wholly preferable that their food doesn’t come in contact with animal products it won’t cause potentially serious adverse medical issues as it would in the case of coeliac disease. Due the aforementioned reason most companies that prepare food on site just won’t risk the potential litigation when it comes to labelling food they provide as gluten free.

I really feel for you op, my youngest is vegan and gf.

alienspiderbee · 29/01/2021 08:22

I guess vegan is easier because consumers will be less bothered about cross-contamination

Some will be less bothered, some won't. I think anywhere the does vegan but can't do gluten free because of cross contamination should have to clearly state "We can't guarantee our vegan food is free from animal products"

DreamingInColours · 29/01/2021 08:22

Vegan doesn't mean dairy and egg free though. My son is dairy/egg allergic and can't eat many vegan products (and certainly can't eat any from the likes of Greg's or similar!) due to the cross contamination risk.

WaltzingBetty · 29/01/2021 08:25

I guess it's market demand

But I feel your pain - I've noticed recently that the free from section in the supermarket has become overrun with wheaty vegan products

And getting popular gf products is still a real challenge. I think it's just market demand - there aren't that many of us

Twizbe · 29/01/2021 08:26

Oh gosh, I'd never thought of cross contamination. My son is allergic to milk and doesn't like egg much. I was loving all these vegan treats for him 🤦‍♀️ thankfully no reactions so far but it seems I need to be more careful with labels again.

alienspiderbee · 29/01/2021 08:29

I've woken up in a bad mood today so going to have a little rant about things advertised as gluten free but not suitable for coeliac sufferers. People don't understand as it is and this just makes it even worse.

FedUpAtHomeTroels · 29/01/2021 08:47

I've been having the same gripe as the OP.
Our local grocery store actually shrank down the Gluten free section in the freezer and added a load of Vegan foods for January. I've noticed the same in other shops too.
It's like they think Gluten free is a lifestyle choice not a medical one.
At least Asda dropped the prices on lots of basics, Flour now 35p and pasta too instaed of £1.50 So I'll bake my own stuff.

DreamingInColours · 29/01/2021 08:57

@Twizbe I saw a UK study the government ran several years ago thay found up to 8% food products on the market are cross-contaminated.
So when labels say May Contain, they really may contain! I didn't fully appreciate that before but don't take the risk now as my son is at risk of Anaphylaxis.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 29/01/2021 09:00

The excuse was always because of contamination but surely making it dairy and egg free is the same?

Its not the same though, dairy and wheat are completely different compounds. When manufacturers make products every substitution to the 'basic' recipe costs extra money.

And given that a lot of people avoid GF and vegan products as they perceive them as lower quality, there's not as big a market for 'Free from' as there is for regular products. Thats not a personal opinion, its consumer science

alienspiderbee · 29/01/2021 09:09

And given that a lot of people avoid GF and vegan products as they perceive them as lower quality, there's not as big a market for 'Free from' as there is for regular products

It's a funny one this, as lots of traditional things that should be gluten free have flour added when mass produced - if hollandaise sauce, macarons, bhajis, poppadoms etc. contain wheat flour (and lots do) it's not because they're better quality :-)

DoTheNextRightThing · 29/01/2021 09:13

I completely agree! Sick of everywhere boasting about their vegan options when they don’t bother to make anything for us gluten free people Sad

mysonsnose · 29/01/2021 09:14

And where are the lovely cheesy vegetarian options?? All replaced by sodding vegan stuff. Hate it

Ginfordinner · 29/01/2021 09:17

I was in Morrisons yesterday, and they had a huge GF section.

DoTheNextRightThing · 29/01/2021 09:18

@Ginfordinner

I was in Morrisons yesterday, and they had a huge GF section.
I think OP was referring to food companies and restaurants not supermarkets. Most supermarkets have a gluten free section now.
LivingMyBestLife2020 · 29/01/2021 09:29

I’m coeliac too and I completely agree!

Thing that irritates me the most, is when the GF option (particularly in restaurants, if anybody remembers them!) is also the GF option. Pisses me right off

LivingMyBestLife2020 · 29/01/2021 09:29

Gf is the Vegan option, that should say

rbe78 · 29/01/2021 09:36

Greggs, Krispy Kreme etc. are businesses, not public services. There has been a big increase in the number of people buying/interested in veganism recently, and so it is now profitable for them to buy and stock vegan products. Until they think they can make money rather than lose it by stocking GF, you're probably out of luck.

ThatIsNotMyUsername · 29/01/2021 09:39

Vegans are a bit more trendy at the moment.

It is frustrating when you know that you really really really can’t eat certain things because of you do, you will be violently ill, and you have to be so careful (not me thankfully but a friend and a friends late brother). Same with allergies - not quite as well catered for as they were (or maybe I’m imagining that). It’s all gone Veganary!

Glenchase · 29/01/2021 10:00

I have long said that the past few years have been the golden age of GF. My husband (coeliac) could eat at loads of restaurants and buy all kinds of food. Because GF was trendy. But when the trend passes, the GF options will disappear. The companies don’t care about individuals who can’t eat gluten - they care about the much larger health food market, which has already moved on.

alienspiderbee · 29/01/2021 10:13

I have long said that the past few years have been the golden age of GF.

Yes, seems so much worse to have options taken away than never having them in the first place. Itsu used to do great breakfast pots which were gf, but then changed them, have to constantly research to keep on top of where there are options.

WhatsYourNameMan · 29/01/2021 10:15

Vegan stuff is trendy. Really keeping my fingers crossed for it going back of of fashion soon...

SinkGirl · 29/01/2021 10:16

@Twizbe

Oh gosh, I'd never thought of cross contamination. My son is allergic to milk and doesn't like egg much. I was loving all these vegan treats for him 🤦‍♀️ thankfully no reactions so far but it seems I need to be more careful with labels again.
A couple of years ago I bought coconut yoghurt for my twins. They got really ill - bleeding nappy rash, covered in eczema etc.

I posted about it on a Facebook group and someone linked me to a product recall as the batch I had bought had been contaminated with dairy.

These products are definitely not designed to be safe from allergens IMO. So there’s a lot they should be able to have but can’t.

WhatsYourNameMan · 29/01/2021 10:18

Oops sorry just seen this is the vegan board Blush I just saw it on active. Apologies to all vegans... Wink

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