Abstract

AFONSO, Daniela; JORGE, Rita  and  MOREIRA, Ana Catarina. Gluten and Gluten-Free Products - Price Difference. Acta Port Nutr [online]. 2016, n.4, pp.10-16. ISSN 2183-5985.  https://doi.org/10.21011/apn.2015.0403.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune chronic disease characterized by gluten sensitivity, which manifests in genetically susceptible individuals. When people with celiac disease consume gluten, their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine. Being so, the only known treatment for celiac disease is a lifelong strict gluten-free diet that should be complete, balanced and varied. The objetives of these study were compare prices between categories of gluten-free products and equivalents with gluten, assess costs in a family income of a gluten-free diet and compare the results with a previous study. The price per kilogram of gluten and gluten-free products was collected through online search. Prices were analyzed by product type, among seven categories (bread, pasta, flour, breakfast cereals, cookies/ cakes, cereal bars and ready meals) of all gluten-free products, and the same prices of equivalents gluten products were collected. The food prices included in the essential food basket with gluten, developed by Portuguese nutritionists association, were posteriorly adjusted to the gluten-free diet. In all categories of products analyzed gluten-free products were more expensive. Largest differences were observed in food categories such as pasta, bread and cookies categories. It was found a difference of 26% in prices when comparing gluten-free essential food basket and the gluten equivalent. The added cost for a family to follow a gluten-free diet for one month is 110€ and weekly per person is 8,6€. The present study demonstrates that, in all categories, gluten-free products studied are more expensive than equivalents gluten products. The price of the gluten-free essential food basket is greater than the equivalent with gluten, it represents more than a half of a family budget, of national minimum salary. Compared to a previous study the difference between prices of gluten-free and gluten products decreased in most categories.

Keywords : Gluten-free diet; Celiac Disease; Price; Gluten-free products; Gluten products.

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