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ARCHIVED - Coeliacs in Spain protest over extortionate price of health food
Gluten intolerant people in Spain claim their annual shopping costs around 600 euros more than average
Left with no other viable solutions, coeliacs are forced to cut all gluten from their diets in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The trouble is that the disease is largely misunderstood in Spain and elsewhere, and staple products like bread, cereals and pasta, which are situated at the bottom of the food pyramid, all contain this key protein which is harmful to sufferers.
Alternative products made without gluten are typically more expensive and given that inflation has just grown by 6.1% for the general population, essential food items for coeliac disease have been pushed up even higher.
According to the latest cost report carried out by the Federation of Coeliac Associations of Spain (FACE), a person with coeliac disease spends an average of 540 euros more per year on shopping to assume the extra cost of specific gluten-free products.
One Getafe mother of a recently diagnosed coeliac teenager has noticed a huge difference in her supermarket bill: “Economically, we have noticed, bread is much more expensive , besides that you have to get used to the flavour and texture,” she said, explaining that all of the family is now avoiding gluten-based products to avoid cross contamination.
She picked up on several other price differences on her last visit to the supermarket, too: a pack of four regular burger buns cost just over a euro while she was expected to pay two euros for two gluten free equivalents. Gluten free spaghetti, pastries and sweet treats were often three or even four times more expensive.
To highlight the disparity in pricing in Spain, the Association of Coeliacs and Sensitive to Gluten, and the Coeliacs Association of Catalonia have organised a demonstration in Madrid on Sunday March 5.
“Spain is one of the few European countries in which there is no aid to face this extra expense,” a spokesperson said. For coeliacs, gluten free “is not fashion, it’s health,” she added.
Image: Pexels
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