Questions related to: What was the outcome of the Westminster debate on gluten free prescribing?
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Can I buy a kit to test the level of gluten in my food?
There are companies that produce testing kits to test the level of gluten in ready prepared foods.
These tests are marketed for testing meals in restaurants and can detect a level of gluten of 20 parts per million or less.
Reliability of these kits should always be considered, not because the kits do not do what they are reported to do, but because the user may not maintain control of the conditions needed for accurate testing. For example, testing a small sample of a certain meal will not necessarily represent the gluten content of the complete meal. It is also important to make sure that all gluten is extracted from a food before testing using the chemicals provided. It is therefore very important to follow the manufacturer's guidance on using the test kits.
More information about testing food and auditing requirements can be found over on our Food Businesses page.
Are the products listed in the vegetarian chapter suitable for a vegan diet?
The Vegetarian Chapter contains gluten free foods that are suitable for a vegetarian diet. Some products may also be suitable for a vegan diet, please refer to the manufacturer.
How can I have my research proposal considered for funding by Coeliac UK?
When Coeliac UK has a Research Call it will be advertised and posted on our website and across our social media platforms where you are encouraged to apply.
Outside of a Research Call, we are also interested in hearing about your research proposals as we may be able to help with extended research networks and there is often mutual benefit. We can also add your details to the Research Register we hold for coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis.
If you would like to tell our Research Team about your research, then you can always complete our online form.
If I have registered as being interested in research, must I participate?
No, participation is always voluntary. After you have received information about a research project you are not obliged to participate and if you do consider becoming involved, you also have the right to change your mind at any time.
Which foods are listed in Section 1?
Section 1 lists foods that are gluten free. They contain gluten at a level of no more than 20 parts per million (ppm). Products listed here comply with the law (European Regulation EU 828/2014). Foods in this section are tested to make sure they are gluten free.
You will find the following types of foods in Section 1:
- specialist, substitute foods:
- foods carrying the Coeliac UK Crossed Grain symbol
- some mainstream foods that are labelled gluten free.
- on prescription
- in the Free From section of the supermarket
What should I do if a product I have bought contains gluten although it is listed in the Food and Drink Guide?
Manufacturers sometimes change their ingredients without notifying us. Please contact us on 0333 332 2033 and select option 2 so that we can investigate. To be able to investigate your query we will require the following information: brand and product name, pack size, barcode number and the nature of your query e.g. may contain statement, contains wheat etc.
Are prescriptions products safer than retail products?
All gluten free foods are covered by the same legislation and therefore need to reach the same standard to be labelled gluten free whether they are available from shops or on prescription.
Can I eat yeast?
Fresh yeast is naturally gluten free. We are now aware of some brands of dried yeasts that now contain wheat starch in the ingredients so they are not gluten free. We therefore now list dried yeasts on our Food and Drink Information Service that do not contain gluten.
Why isn’t Marmite listed in the Food & Drink Guide?
Although it was suitable in the past, since 2016 Marmite is no longer suitable for a gluten free diet as it contains more than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten.
Yeast extract (which Marmite is made from) can be made as a by product of bread, wine and beer making. Although the ingredient and manufacturing processes have not changed, recent information received from the makers of Marmite indicates that despite thorough washing, it contains slightly more than the 20 ppm gluten standard, now defined by law.
If in the past you have included Marmite in your gluten free diet, it is highly unlikely that it will have been harmful as it is usually only consumed in small amounts.
You can contact the Unilever Careline on 0800 010 109 directly if you would like to speak to someone about the suitability of Marmite.
Please see our Food and Drink Information or our app for alternative yeast extract products which are suitable for a gluten free diet.