Prior to the launch no such scheme existed, but now there are around 3,000 accredited establishments in the UK, including restaurants, hospitals, schools and takeaways. The Gluten Free Accreditation Scheme reassures safe delivery of gluten free food for the whole gluten free community, helping establishments to meet the increasing customer demand for medically required dietary needs.
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system reacts to gluten found in food and attacks the gut. It affects one in 100 people and currently the only treatment is to follow a strict gluten free diet for life.
The Gluten Free Accreditation symbol tells customers that an establishment is safe – building trust, loyalty and driving new visitors.
According to a recent poll 96% of respondents said their gluten free needs determine where they eat out. Also 97% said that when they’ve found a gluten free venue they trust, it becomes a preferred place to visit.
Hilary Croft, chief executive of Coeliac UK, said: “We are incredibly proud of the scheme and its growth over the last ten years. By joining the Coeliac UK Gluten Free Accreditation Scheme, catering establishments are able to give customers certainty of the gluten status of a dish beyond the use of the wording ‘gluten free’ on menus.
“By law, food labelled as gluten free must contain no more than 20 parts per million of gluten – accredited partners commit to going over and above this and meet an exacting standard, and this assurance plays an important role in venue choice.
“The need and demand for safe eating environments for those following a gluten free diet, which is crucial for people with coeliac disease, continues to grow. We will be continuing our work to increase the number of venues carrying the accreditation into 2023 and beyond - and I encourage any caterer that is not currently accredited to get in touch with us to learn more about its benefits for them as a business, and their customers.”
To find out more about Coeliac UK’s Gluten Free Accreditation Scheme and discover its full range of benefits, please visit: https://www.coeliac.org.uk/food-businesses.
