When looking through online forums for gluten free restaurant eating, the amount of horror stories we see is atrocious!

Coeliac disease is an auto-immune disorder where ingesting gluten (present in wheat, barley, rye and non gluten free oats) breaks down the lining of the intestines and can cause severe immediate gastrointestinal issues, including vomiting and diarrhea, and longer term issues such as increased risk of cancer and infertility. A single gluten containing crumb can cause these issues and so cross contact of food for coeliacs is a real danger to their health.

All restaurants offering a GF menu should have a dedicated GF area in their kitchen and all chefs and serving staff need to be fully trained in cross contact and the awful effects that failing to eliminate cross contact has on a Coeliac person. This training should be done when they get their food hygiene certificates to ensure it is never overlooked.

My daughter got 'glutened' due to cross contact while eating a JACKET POTATO WITH TUNA! All ingredients in the meal were naturally gluten free, and specifically ordered from the gluten free menu, but the lack of care taken in the kitchen led to a seven-year-old in a lot of pain! This happens to so many coeliacs and it ISN'T RIGHT! We need this to change.

Coeliac disease is often looked at as an allergy, but it is an auto immune disease and ANY gluten starts destroying the intestines of the sufferer! It needs to be treated the same as you would a severe nut allergy and yet the knowledge amongst those in the restaurant business is hugely lacking when compared to food allergies.

LET'S MAKE IT LAW THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE OUR MEDICAL NEEDS AS SERIOUSLY AS THEY DO WITH OTHERS IE NUT ALLERGIES. 

COELIACS MATTER TOO!!!