Gluten Free Diet Sheet

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and foods made from these cereals, oats contain a similar protein - seek advice based upon the Coeliac UK's statement on Oats. A gluten free diet avoids all foods containing wheat, rye, and barley, and possibly oats.
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Why a Gluten Free Diet?

There are two separate conditions which are caused by a reaction to gluten. These are:

a) Coeliac condition - gluten causes a reaction which affects the lining of the small bowel reducing its ability to absorb food.
b) Dermatitis herpetiformis - gluten causes a skin reaction

Both conditions respond to a gluten free diet.

Gluten free manufactured products

The charity Coeliac UK publishes a comprehensive handbook of manufactured products regarded as being gluten free by the manufacturers and are therefore permitted in a gluten free diet. The handbook is updated every year, changes which occur during the year are updated by Coeliac UK and are available from them.

It is very important to realise that manufacturers are constantly reviewing their products and changes may occur in product formulation even thought the packet may still appear to look the same

Coeliac UK

The Charity was formed in 1968 to promote the welfare of children and adults who have been medically diagnosed as having Coeliac condition or Dermatitis herpetiformis.

In addition to producing the list of Gluten Free Manufactured Foods, the charity also produces a wide range of useful information for anyone diagnosed with either of the conditions. Contact Coeliac UK at the address below for more useful information

Coeliac UK
PO Box 220
High Wycombe
Bucks
HP11 2HY

Foods Allowed Freely

Cereals and Flour

Corn or maize, cornmeal
Rice, brown, white or wild
Arrowroot, amaranth, buckwheat, millet, quinoa, sorghum, teff
Specially manufactured gluten free flour, or wheat starch, or mixes
Cornflour or maize flour, polenta
Rice flour, ground rice
Soya flour
Potato starch or flour
Bean flours, chickpea flour, split pea flour
Sago, tapioca, cassava
Rice bran
Popping corn

Bread, Cakes and Biscuits

Specially manufactured gluten free bread and rolls, including part baked rolls
Specially manufactured gluten free biscuits, crispbreads and crackers
Gluten free cakes, Rice Cakes, Gluten free pastry
Specially manufactured gluten free pizza bases
Gluten free meringues and macaroons

Breakfast Cereals

Cornflakes and Rice Cereals.
Specially prepared gluten-free muesli
Buckwheat flakes

Pasta

Specially-manufactured gluten free pasta
Rice or Corn pasta
Rice Noodles

Meat and Poultry

All fresh meats including poultry and game, offal.
Meat canned or pre-packed in its own juices or jelly.
Smoked or cured pure meat such as bacon or ham.
Sausages that are 100% meat
Specially made gluten-free sausages
Continental sausages containing only meat

Fish and Shell Fish

All fresh fish and other seafood.
Smoked, kippered and dried fish and shell fish.
Fish canned in oil or brine.
Frozen, plain fish and shellfish.

Cheese and Eggs

All natural plain cheeses, cottage cheese, low fat cheese and diet cheeses
Cheese with added fruit, vegetables, nuts and herbs.
Eggs

Milk and Milk Products

Fresh dried, condensed and evaporated milk
Skimmed and semi skimmed milk
Sterilised and UHT milk
Fresh cream, soured cream, buttermilk, crème fraiche.
Soya milk.
Goat's milk.
Most yogurts and fromage frais
Coffee and tea creamers and whiteners

Fats and Oils

Butter, margarine, lard and cooking oils.
Pure whe