Campaign to make gluten free food more affordable and accessible
We are on a mission to make gluten free food more affordable and accessible. Our aim is to highlight the additional challenges faced by the coeliac community and avoid a cost of living crisis becoming a future health crisis.
Take action - sign our petition
In March 2023 we launched the campaign with the publication of our report, 'The Gluten Free Diet: What does it cost and why does it matter?’ which highlighted the inequality of pricing for gluten free food for those that need it to maintain their health. The report intended to provide a snapshot of the true cost of maintaining a gluten free diet and confirmed the shocking additional cost of gluten free staple products.
Building on that work, we asked our community to help us gather more information during their regular shopping trips. We had nearly 1,000 people take the time to share their experiences and published our second report in June 2024 with updated data, including the findings from this survey. Highlights from the report included: 
- The cheapest gluten free loaf of bread is 6.1 times more expensive than the cheapest gluten containing loaf, gram for gram
- The weekly food shop suitable for a gluten free diet can be as much as 35% more expensive
- 7 in 10 people find shopping gluten free ‘adversely affects their quality of life’
- Almost 8 in 10 people struggled to afford gluten free products with those on the lowest incomes hit hardest by this additional cost
Since the campaign launched, nearly 5,000 of you have pledged your support to make gluten free food more affordable and accessible, with over 451 of the 5,000 people contacting their Integrated Care Board (ICB) and 978 of the 5,000 contacting their local MP directly to raise this important issue. Thank you for being part of amazing this effort!
We have been working with the food industry to make the case for availability of affordable gluten free products on store shelves and look forward to sharing further updates on this collaborative work soon.
Join the fight – protect gluten free food on prescription for those with coeliac disease
Gluten free staple substitutes play a crucial role in supporting people with coeliac disease to stay healthy, yet they are significantly more expensive and harder to find available on the shelves than gluten containing equivalents.
For years, the NHS has been instrumental in supporting those with coeliac disease by providing access to gluten free food on prescription. However, recent changes in CB policies and uncertainties surrounding government funding jeopardise this vital support system. Whilst this remains in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, across England, many ICBs have taken the decision to withdraw much needed provision often based on faulty evidence and ignoring the views of the public on the impact of removal.
We cannot stand by while patients with coeliac disease are left without the support they need to stay healthy. It's time to hold the Government accountable for safeguarding the health and wellbeing of vulnerable members of our community.
Join us in calling on the UK Government to uphold its commitment to health equality and ensure that those with coeliac disease have access to the gluten free food they need to thrive.
Take action – sign our petition!
Sign our petition to make it clear to the Government that protecting access to gluten free food on NHS prescription is invaluable for keeping people with coeliac disease safe and well. Help us get to 10,000 signatures so we can take the petition direct to the Government and make our voices heard. Together, we can make a difference!
Note: When you sign the petition, you’ll need to add your name and email address and you’ll be sent an email to confirm your signature. Be sure to click the button on the email or your signature won’t be added!
How you can get involved
Our voice is only as strong as the community we represent and our initial success in raising awareness of the cost, access and availability of gluten free food has only been because of your incredible support. Thank you! If you’ve signed the petition already and want to help make a difference even further, here’s how:
1. Share your story
We want to know how maintaining a gluten free diet is affecting you financially on a day-to-day basis, how you are coping with the rising cost of your food shop and if you are currently receiving prescription support to access gluten free food or have had prescription support withdrawn in your area. Share your story on social media and tag us or fill out the form below.
2. Shout about it
Use our letter templates to make change at a higher level:
- Contact your local ICB (non prescribing areas of England only)
- Contact your local Member of Parliament
Find out if you have access to gluten free staples on prescription in your area using our postcode tool here
Seven Day Meal Plan – your budget meal booklet
Helpful hints on how to eat well gluten free on a budget.