FAQ

We’ve put together all our most frequently asked questions. If there’s something you would like to know that we haven’t covered, please do get in touch and we will be happy to help.

If there’s something you would like to know that we haven’t covered, please do get in touch and we will be happy to help.

For more specific dietary advice, you will need to speak to your dietitian. It’s also worth having a look at Coeliac UK’s website, www.coeliac.org.uk as there is lots of helpful information and support on all aspects of coeliac disease and the gluten free diet.

Coeliac Disease

What is Coeliac Disease?

Coeliac Disease is an autoimmune condition, not an allergy or a food intolerance. It is an illness where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues when you eat gluten. This means your gut lining becomes damaged and you cannot absorb nutrients from food. Commonly misdiagnosed as IBS, symptoms of coeliac disease include bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, and vitamin deficiencies.

Further information about the condition can be found from Coeliac UK, the national charity for people with the condition.

https://www.coeliac.org.uk/home/

Tel: 0333 332 2033

and from the NHS Website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coeliac-disease/

How can Juvela help me with Coeliac Disease?

With over 25 years of experience, we understand that a coeliac disease diagnosis can feel daunting. We’re here every step of the way – whether you’re a newly diagnosed or have been on a gluten free diet longer term.

We make a range of delicious gluten free food so you have everything you need to rediscover the joy of food! Juvela bread, gluten free flour mixes and cereals are fortified with essential nutrients to help you feel your best again. They are available on prescription throughout the UK* to help you manage your gluten free diet.
*types and availability of products will vary depending on where you live.

We can give you advice on the gluten free diet, our products and recipes and setting up a gluten free prescription.

Contact our customer service team for advice and support on our freephone helpline 0800 783 1992 or email us at info@juvela.co.uk

I’ve just been diagnosed with Coeliac Disease, what should I do?

We understand that being diagnosed with coeliac disease can be overwhelming at first; there is a lot of information to take in, especially as it affects your whole diet and lifestyle.

It’s reassuring to know that once you adapt to a new way of eating gluten free, you will feel much better, and your symptoms will gradually disappear.

It’s important for your long term health that you follow a balanced gluten free diet for life. This is the only treatment for coeliac disease.

A good starting point is to see a dietitian. They will guide you through how to remove gluten from your diet, answer any questions or concerns and provide lots of helpful advice on suitable foods, as well as advising what foods are available on prescription.

A gluten free prescription is a great way to ensure access to a safe and regular supply of gluten free foods. The products are all made specifically for people with coeliac disease and are fortified with vitamins and minerals to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Sign up for a free Juvela Starter Pack here

We offer newly diagnosed coeliacs a free Juvela Starter Pack to help you get a fresh start. If you are eligible*, we will send you a box of samples so you can try them before you add them onto your prescription.

*Eligibility depends on whether you live in a prescribing area. If you are not eligible for gluten free prescriptions, you can buy a gluten free box from our online shop. For those living in Northern Ireland, due to Brexit food export legislation, we are unable to include any food samples with your packs (which contain information about our products and how to set up a gluten free prescription).

Try your samples and make an appointment with your GP to request the products you’d like to a monthly prescription. You collect them from your pharmacy, just like any other prescription.

If you are still in the process of getting a diagnosis and your GP has referred you for an endoscopy it is important to not cut gluten out of your diet yet as this could affect your results.

Availability

Where can I get Juvela products?

Juvela products are available across the UK* on prescription.
*types and availability of products will vary depending on where you live.

Click here to find out if you live in a prescribing area.

If you are not eligible for gluten free prescriptions, you can buy a gluten free box from our online shop.

Alternatively, call us on 0800 783 1992 and we can place your order for you.

Our fresh white bread is also available from larger Tesco stores, check your nearest stockist here.

What products do you make?

We make gluten free bread, mixes (like a flour), cereals and pasta.

We’re experts in making gluten free bread. We speak to lots of customers who say bread is the hardest thing to replace. We make our loaves and rolls with care in our very own gluten free bakery in Wales with a unique recipe, so it has the taste and texture of ‘real’ bread!

View our product range here

Gluten Free Prescriptions

What is a gluten free prescription?

To help you to manage a gluten free diet, the NHS provide access to gluten free food on prescription. The accessibility and types of gluten free foods available varies and will depend on where you live as local Integrated Care Boards (ICB) and Health Board policies differ.

Why choose a gluten free prescription?

  • It’s a safe and consistent supply of gluten free food
    A gluten free prescription is separate from the weekly shop in supermarkets. It’s not going to get contaminated with gluten or get mixed up with products containing gluten. And if you have a monthly repeat prescription, you won’t be without your everyday essentials.
  • Provides a guaranteed access to gluten free food
    Some people may not live near a large supermarket with gluten free food in stock, while others may be on a low income. Staple gluten free food on prescription ensures a guaranteed supply of safe food.
  • It helps to meet your specific nutritional requirements
    Coeliacs may need more of certain vitamins and minerals after being unable to absorb these properly before diagnosis. Our gluten free foods are fortified with calcium, iron and B vitamins that are specific to your dietary needs, which is why they are available on prescription.

How do I find out if my area is prescribing gluten free foods?

Just click on this link and pop in your postcode to find out.

The reason some areas are no longer prescribing gluten free food is because the ICB / CCG (Integrated Care Board / Clinical Commissioning Group) for the area has decided to stop offering this service.

My area has stopped prescribing gluten free food, how can I get Juvela now?

You can buy directly from our online shop, or if you prefer, you can call us on 0800 783 1992 and we can place your order for you.

Our fresh white bread is also available to purchase from larger Tesco stores, check your nearest stockist.

How do I set up a gluten free prescription?

Initially you will need to make an appointment with your GP to set up your gluten free prescription. After that you can just request a repeat prescription each month, and collect this from your pharmacy.

Do I have to pay for a gluten free prescription?

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, prescriptions are free.

If you live in England, double check here to see if you are entitled to free prescriptions.

If you do have to pay for your prescription and will be ordering gluten free food regularly, the most cost effective way to do this is to buy a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC). Follow this link.

This will cover all your gluten free foods for the month, along with any other medicines you may need.

I would like something different on my prescription - how can I change it?

Most surgeries will take your request over the phone and then pass a note through for the doctor to amend your prescription, or you can do it on E-consult as well. Check with your own surgery about the best way to do this.

How do I know what I can get on prescription?

It depends on where you live:

  • In England, a selection of gluten free bread and rolls, and flour mixes are approved on prescription.
  • In Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland, there is a wider choice available including breakfast cereals and pasta

For a full list of Juvela products available on prescription click here.


Products

What can I make with your gluten free flour mixes?

In a word – everything!

The Juvela Gluten Free Mixes are multi-purpose flour substitutes. The list of what you can make is endless. If you made it with flour before you were diagnosed, you can make it with our Mixes. So, you’ve made some bread but you fancy some pancakes – go for it! Want a Victoria sponge? No problem!

The Mixes come in a choice of Gluten Free White Mix and Gluten Free Fibre Mix – the only difference being that the Fibre Mix contains added vegetable fibre, so gives a lovely nutty flavour and texture to your recipes. It’s also high in fibre, so a great way to increase your intake!

Follow this link for loads of great recipe ideas using our Gluten Free Flour Mixes.

Do you make fresh gluten free bread?

Yes, we do. If you live in an area which allows gluten free food on prescription, you can get this via your pharmacy.

We bake and deliver the fresh bread to pharmacies 4 days a week, and so that we know how much to make, your pharmacy needs to place the order based on ordering deadlines. Your bread will be baked the very next day and delivered to your pharmacy. They should let you know when the bread arrives but it’s a good idea to check and collect on the day of delivery, so the bread is as fresh as possible.

Our Fresh Bread products aren't available in Northern Ireland.

The fresh bread has 5 days shelf life so you will need to freeze some of the packs. Don’t worry, it freezes well for at least a month.

You can also buy our fresh bread direct from our online shop.

Otherwise, you can buy it from the larger Tesco stores, check this link to find your nearest stockist.

What are your fresh bread delivery days?

We deliver to pharmacies 4 days a week - Tuesday to Friday. For further information, please read our Fresh Bread leaflet.

Can you freeze gluten free Juvela bread?

Fresh loaves and rolls – you will need to freeze some of your fresh bread – its best to do this as soon as you have collected it from your pharmacy.

Long life and part baked loaves and rolls – there’s no need to freeze the long life or part baked breads as the special packaging used allows the bread to have an extended shelf-life prior to opening).

If you need to freeze, please pierce the outer packet first to release the gases within and ideally place in freezer bags.

Once opened the bread should remain fresh for 2-3 days (stored in an airtight bag in a cool dry place).

Read our blog on how to make your fresh gluten free bread last longer.

Your products contains Codex Wheat Starch – Is this safe for coeliacs?

We have been making gluten free foods specially for coeliacs for over 25 years, so you are in safe hands! Our bread and flour mixes contain Codex Wheat Starch (or gluten free wheat starch), which is a speciality product whereby the gluten has been removed from the wheat, making it safe for you. We use this because it gives our loaves and rolls the taste and texture of traditional bread and we believe coeliacs should have real bread too!

Is Codex wheat starch safe for me to eat?

Yes. Codex wheat starch (or gluten free wheat starch) has been specially manufactured to make it safe for a gluten free diet. The gluten is washed out to leave only trace levels (less than 20 parts per million (ppm)), and this is safe for coeliacs to eat in unlimited amounts.

The law on labelling of gluten free foods (Codex Alimentarius) means you can only label a food as ‘gluten free’ if it meets the criteria of containing less than 20ppm.

I have a wheat allergy, is your bread suitable for me?

If you have a wheat allergy or have been advised to avoid wheat totally, our breads are not suitable for you. We do make a flour mix which is totally wheat free which would be ideal for you, click on this link to find out more.

If you have been diagnosed with coeliac disease, you only need to avoid gluten (the protein in wheat). As our products are made specifically for those with coeliac disease, they are all safe for you to eat.

Is your bread suitable for Vegans?

Our breads are only suitable for vegetarians as they contain dried skimmed milk powder.

If you still can’t find the answer to your question then please get in touch Contact form or call us on 0800 783 1992 or send us a message on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter  and we will be happy to help.

Ingredients & Labelling

How do I read labels to ensure that I am choosing safe foods?

Food labelling legislation now makes it much easier to see quickly and clearly from the ingredients label whether a food is suitable for your gluten free diet. Any allergens within a product will be highlighted in bold.

To help you make safe choices please consult Coeliac UK’s Food & Drink Guide.

What other foods are safe for me to eat?

There are lots of foods that are naturally gluten free:

  • Potatoes, rice, meat, poultry and fish, fruit and vegetables
  • Dairy products including milk, eggs, cheese, margarine, butter and yogurt (but check for added ingredients!)
  • Nuts, cooking oils, wine, spirits, cider, tea, coffee and fruit juices
  • Some breakfast cereals, pasta and crackers made from rice and corn

Why do oats sometimes have to be avoided?

Oats are often produced alongside wheat, rye and barley so there is a risk of cross contamination with these grains. ‘Pure’ oats are uncontaminated and can be tolerated by the majority of people with coeliac disease.

Miscellaneous

I’ve applied for a Starter Pack and not received it yet

We’ll aim to deliver your starter pack within 14 working days. If you still haven’t received the pack after this period, we are sorry for the delay. Please complete this Contact form, call us on 0800 783 1992, email us at info@juvela.co.uk or send us a message on Facebook or Instagram or X - Twitter and we can look into this for you.

  • Starter Packs are limited to one per person
  • If you live in a non-prescribing area in England (where NHS CCGs/ICBs no longer prescribe gluten free foods), we are unable to send starter packs to these areas. You can check if you are eligible by entering your postcode into the following form.
  • If you live in Northern Ireland, we are unable to provide food samples in our Starter Packs due to the introduction of Brexit food export legislation.

I have a complaint about a product

We are so sorry to hear this. Please complete this Contact form, call us on 0800 783 1992, email us at info@juvela.co.uk or send us a message on Facebook or Instagram or X - Twitter and we can look into this for you.

What is cross contamination?

Gluten free food that is touched by any other gluten-containing foods during preparation, cooking and serving is considered “cross-contaminated”. It’s really important for friends, family members or parents of coeliacs to understand about avoiding cross-contamination from gluten-containing foods. Even the smallest amount of gluten can cause people with coeliac disease to experience symptoms and this can cause long term gut damage.

What changes should I make in my kitchen to avoid cross-contamination?

Here are our top tips to help you stay safe and free from gluten in your own home:

  1. Have separate bread boards, bread knives and toasters (or use toaster bags or a clean grill)
  2. Use separate areas in the kitchen for gluten free preparation – or ensure the area is thoroughly cleaned before you start food preparation. ALWAYS wipe down all counter tops before and after use. Crumbs like to lurk!
  3. Use separate butter tubs
  4. Use separate spoons for jam (rather than dipping gluteny knives into jam!)
  5. Cover the grill pan with clean foil for each use
  6. Don’t fry food in oil that has been used to cook gluten-containing foods

Can I still eat out and order takeaways on a gluten free diet?

Yes! It's much easier nowadays to eat out on a gluten free diet. The foodservice and hospitality industry’s awareness and knowledge about gluten free diets is growing and many restaurant chains offer gluten free menus. Some fast-food restaurants now also offer gluten free options.

It is still possible to run into issues at a restaurant; in most cases, the problem isn't gluten containing ingredients in the food itself—it's cross contamination or lack of understanding from restaurant staff.

These top tips will help avoid any problems:

Do a bit of research

It’s fun to go out on a whim, but that’s not always possible when following a gluten-free diet.

Have a look at the restaurants websites before you go. Look for dedicated gluten-free menus and markers that items are or can be made gluten-free.

Perhaps call the restaurant before you go and talk to the manager or chef. This is your best way of getting your concerns answered clearly and directly and you will get a feel if the restaurant fully understands the importance of your diet.

Ask a few questions – here are a few ideas:


Do you have a gluten-free menu?

  • Can you modify any dishes to make them gluten-free?
  • As about specific ingredients, for example:
    • Does the salad contain croutons or a dressing with wheat-based ingredients?
    • Is there flour in the seasonings?
    • Does the soy sauce contain wheat?
    • Is the meat, fish or poultry dusted or dredged with flour or bread crumbs before grilling or frying?
    • Do the burgers contain wheat flour, wheat starch, bread crumbs or seasonings with wheat?
  • How are kitchen staff notified when there is a gluten-free order?
  • What do you do to avoid cross-contamination?
  • Is there a separate preparation area for gluten-free foods?
  • Are there separate utensils?
  • Is there a dedicated gluten-free fryer?

If you don’t feel confident from the responses you receive, or it seems like you’re having to educate the staff, you might want to reconsider.

Before you tuck in

When your meal arrives, always double-check that it is yours and confirm it is gluten-free.

Had a bad experience?

Always let the restaurant manager know; they’ll usually do what they can to make it right and you’ll be helping your fellow coeliacs by educating the restaurant on how important a strict gluten free diet is.

Coeliac UK’s Crossed Grain Symbol

Look out for Coeliac UK's Crossed Grain symbol on menus and in the windows of accredited venues. This symbol on a menu tells you that the dish is gluten-free according to the law and that the caterer meets all requirements of the Gluten-free standard which covers all aspects of gluten-free preparation and ensures training is in place.

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