What is a gluten-free diet?

Which foods are naturally gluten-free?

The good news is that there are many foods that are naturally gluten-free:

• Potatoes, meat, poultry and fish, fruit and vegetables
• Most milk and dairy 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

Which foods should be avoided?

ALL foods made from wheat, barley, rye and their flours must be avoided:

• Bread, cakes, biscuits and pasta
• Breakfast cereals made from these grains
• Many manufactured and processed foods – fish fingers, chicken nuggets and all breaded and battered fish and meat, pastry, scotch eggs and yogurt with muesli
• Malted milk drinks, barley water, beer, lager, stout

What about oats?

‘Pure’ uncontaminated oats can be tolerated by the majority of people with coeliac disease.

If in doubt, check with your healthcare professional, or look in Coeliac UK’s Food & Drink Guide.

What foods should be checked carefully?

• Sausages and burgers
• Processed cheese and meat
• Ready meals
• Sauces and gravies
• Herbal tea, carbonated drinks, milkshakes

Understanding food labels

Allergen labelling means that you can tell from the ingredients list whether a packaged food contains gluten. Always check the ingredient list. Allergens will be highlighted in bold.

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

What about medicines?

Always check with your pharmacist that your prescribed medicine is gluten-free. That also includes vitamins, minerals and supplements too.

What special gluten-free foods are available from your pharmacy?

Juvela produce a range of staple gluten-free foods to help manage your gluten-free diet that are available on prescription to those medically diagnosed with coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis (DH)

The range includes loaves and rolls, all-purpose flour mixes, breakfast cereals, a selection of pasta, pizza bases and crispbreads.

Access and availability to gluten-free food on prescription will vary depending on where you live. To find out more about gluten-free foods on prescription click here.