Coeliac disease under a microscope 

             Normal                 Partial                   Severe

Where can I find out more about what I can eat safely?

Coeliac UK (formerly the Coeliac Society) provides a large amount of information for people with coeliac disease. Your doctor will encourage you to become a member if you are diagnosed with coeliac disease. Coeliac UK publishes a list of gluten-free products in a handbook which is updated every year. The list is also available to members on their website which also has links to other sources of information. They also publish a quarterly magazine which provides information about new products, recipes, social and educational events and research developments. You can contact Coeliac UK at

PO Box 220, High
Wycombe, Bucks, HP11 2HY

or phone: 01494 437278

website: www.coeliac.co.uk

What can I eat instead?

Many food manufacturers make alternative products for people with coeliac disease. These products replace staple constituents of the diet such as bread, biscuits, pizza bases and flour but are carefully made without gluten and are therefore safe to eat. These products can be purchased from supermarkets and health shops. It is currently possible to obtain a supply of these foods on prescription from your doctor. Many other foods are naturally gluten-free and therefore safe to eat.

Can I rely on food labelling?

The current legislation requires food manufacturers to label foods with the basic constituents but this is to change soon so that all individual ingredients must be clearly stated. Most manufacturers label their products separately as gluten-containing or gluten-free, but generally gluten should be listed as an ingredient where present. Restaurants are increasingly trying to help by indicating the use of gluten in dishes. However many restaurants currently do not label their meals and you may have to ask. 

What happens if I eat gluten by accident?

 This depends on how sensitive you are to gluten. If you only had mild symptoms in the first place then you will probably not feel ill if you consume some gluten by accident. This does not mean that you should not try to stick to your gluten-free diet as any amount of gluten can potentially cause inflammation in your intestine. Some patients are very sensitive to gluten and develop symptoms if they accidentally eat even a tiny amount of gluten. It is even more important that they follow a strict gluten-free diet.