Coeliac disease is something that affects many people in the UK and groups across Europe who represents people with coeliac disease are working towards having a universally recognised gluten-free symbol.
An agreement would mean that the same symbol is going would appear on all gluten free products across Europe. The groups have said that they want to see the symbol appear in a prominent place on the front of all products without gluten in them.
Currently the situation is very confusing and different brands have adopted different ways of highlighting the fact that their products are gluten-free. The Chief Executive of Coeliac UK is Sarah Sleet and she has recently commented, “Having a universal symbol will be a great way to improve recognition among consumers of gluten-free products. It has a huge potential to improve the situation for people who suffer from coeliac disease”
She continued, “We are currently working with major grocery chains in the UK to encourage them to use a symbol that we have developed. Furthermore, I have been working with other people in Europe to get the symbol used another major European countries such as France and Germany. The fact that they have already chosen to adopt the symbol, is going to put pressure on UK supermarkets to do the same.”
Foodmatters is a website providing information about gluten-free food and it is edited by Michelle Berriedale-Johnson who has commented, “An agreed-upon logo would be very welcomed by coeliac sufferers, the current situation is not good enough and it can sometimes lead to dangerous risks for people with the disease.”
The UK is one of the most gluten averse countries in the world and the wheat free market in the UK is currently valued at around £136 million. Furthermore it is expanding rapidly, with a near 15 percent increase seen in the last year.
