November 2004
Fish and trip | |
|  | | Janet Foster |
| | Janet Foster takes a 260 mile round trip from Wolverhampton to Leeds for fish and chips. |
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The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites. | | | FACTS | | What is gluten?
Gluten is the protein found in wheat. Similar proteins which are toxic to coeliacs are present in rye, barley and oats. Therefore, wheat, rye, barley and oats are all excluded in a gluten-free diet.
What is naturally gluten-free?
Many foods are naturally gluten-free as they do not contain any wheat, rye, barley and oats. For example, all fresh meat, fish, cheese, eggs, milk, fruit and vegetables are gluten-free.
However, once such foods are processed or used as ingredients in other foods, great care must be taken to ensure that wheat or other gluten-containing cereals have not been added in the manufacture.
Obvious sources of gluten in the diet.
Wheat is usually made into flour and any food such as ordinary bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries, puddings and pies made from flour will contain gluten. | | | PRINT THIS PAGE | | | View a printable version of this page. | |  |
| | How far would you travel for your favourite food? Janet Foster from Wednesfield in Wolverhampton, has to drive to the north of England for a little of what she fancies.
 | | Janet tucking into her fish and chips |
Janet loves a plate of fish and chips but can't just pop down to her local chippie in Wolverhampton. Janet explains why, "I have coeliac disease, which is a gluten intolerance and gluten is found in wheat, rye, oats and barley. If I eat any of these products I become very ill."
Coeliac disease is a life-long inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. In a Coeliac, gluten damages the lining of the small intestine which greatly reduces the ability of the gut to absorb adequate nutrients from food.
130 miles and three hours later, in Leeds, and Janet can enjoy a rare indulgence at a takeaway and restaurant where they'll make fish and chips containing no gluten especially for coeliacs. "Oh, it's a rare treat and very enjoyable. Tasty, every mouthful" says Janet.
Janet's weekly supermarket shop can take hours. There are now many special products for coeliacs but every ingredient label has to be checked carefully.
 | | Labels must be checked carefully by Janet |
Janet tells us more: "Well, this is a package of red cabbage cooked in red wine, apple and cranberries. But, I've noticed on the back of the packet an allergy label that says it has milk and wheat so it wouldn't be suitable for a gluten free diet."
One person in 80 has coeliac disease. Janet wants food retailers to be more aware of the condition.
And....if you run a local chippie and can help, you could save Janet Foster a fortune in petrol.
It's a long way to go for fish and chips. Midlands Today would love to hear from you if you make an extraordinary journey for your favourite food.
E-mail BBC Midlands Today here. | | | |
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