'It's cheaper to ship gluten-free food from the UK'

A mum-of-two has said the choice of food in Guernsey to meet her family's gluten-free dietary needs is "limited" and the prices "extortionate".

Debbie, a diagnosed-coeliac for more than 20 years, said she and two of her children were both gluten and dairy-free.

The States of Guernsey said patients diagnosed with coeliac disease were able to obtain certain gluten-free foods on prescription. It added patients were referred to a dietitian and should consult Coeliac UK for further advice and support.

The Channel Islands Co-op said it worked with suppliers "to keep prices as competitive as possible". The BBC also approached Waitrose for comment.

Coeliac disease is caused by a reaction of the immune system to gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. The only treatment is a strict, gluten free diet.

Debbie, a community healthcare assistant, emphasised the importance of adhering to a strict gluten-free diet for her 11-year-old son Kian and daughter Riva-Mae, 9.

"For me and for Riva-Mae, we tend to get stomach aches and digestive issues if we even eat a crumb of gluten. My son would be physically sick," she said.

"We've got to be very careful. So with things like butter, we've got a tub for me and the children. My husband's got a different one, so there's no cross-contamination.

"We class ourselves as the normal ones and Dad's the odd one out."

Debbie said she needed to visit three or four different shops to get the weekly supplies which "took all morning" and the cost was much higher than regular products.

"It seems supermarkets label foods with 'gluten-free' and add £2 to the price," she said.

She said the only loaf of bread Kian would eat at one point was "£4.68 per loaf".

"I find myself counting how many things they have in their lunchbox so we don't run out," said Debbie.

She said a friend in the UK sent her a box of gluten-free goods each month which "ends up being cheaper, even including the postage" compared to buying the products in Guernsey.

The latest report by Coeliac UK found sufferers had been paying about 35% more for their weekly shop during the cost of living crisis but Debbie said the prices was even higher in Guernsey.

The States of Guernsey said coeliac patients were able to obtain certain gluten-free foods on prescription, incurring a prescription charge per item.

Debbie said she used to get bread and pasta on prescription but "they weren't great, so we now just buy them ourselves".

According to Coeliac UK, one in 100 people in the UK have coeliac disease but only 36% are diagnosed.

The charity said the disease was genetically-linked. If a first degree family member had it, the chances of others having the condition increased to one in 10.

The symptoms can be different for everyone, ranging from mild to severe, but can include:

• Severe or occasional diarrhoea
• Nausea or vomiting
• Recurrent stomach pain, cramping or bloating
• Ongoing tiredness.

Coeliac disease is not an allergy or food intolerance. Coeliac UK has a symptom checker on its website.

The Channel Islands Co-op said it was "committed to offering a reliable range of products for customers with specific dietary needs, including gluten‑free options".

It said it recognised how important choice and availability were for those managing coeliac disease or gluten intolerance and was "regularly reviewing" its ranges across its Guernsey stores.

It said higher prices for gluten‑free products were largely due to "the specialist ingredients and stricter manufacturing processes needed to avoid cross‑contamination", which made them more expensive at wholesale.

But, it continued to work closely with suppliers, "to keep prices as competitive as possible".

Myfanwy Datta, The States of Guernsey's clinical lead dietitian, said patients diagnosed with coeliac disease were referred to dietitians to manage their condition and ensure they received adequate nutrients in their diet.

She advised islanders with coeliac disease to get an annual review with their GP to test their blood levels.

Guernsey based nutritional therapist Carol Champion advised people with coeliac disease to eat more foods that were "naturally gluten free" such as potatoes, rice, oats and sweet potatoes, rather than buying too many ultra-processed foods.

"These often have added chemicals, flavourings, stabilisers and glues, are often lacking many real nutrients and could have a detrimental effect on someone's health," she said.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.