Coeliac UK launches Gluten free food checker app with 14 allergen options

Coeliac UK has launched an app for gluten intolerant shoppers to help them find gluten-free foods in stores.

The charity’s Gluten free food checker identifies gluten-free foods and lists all products that carry its internationally recognised Crossed Grain symbol, as well as foods that are naturally gluten-free.

The app also allows users to select 14 other allergen-free options to allow them to choose foods for particular dietary needs and preferences.

Images of products, ingredients and nutritional information have been uploaded and users can create shopping lists. The app can hold information on more than 52,000 products and listings were updated weekly, Coeliac UK said.

“We are very pleased to launch this new app for our members to provide an additional resource whilst out shopping,” said Annette Woolman, director of membership services.

“We are aware that many people have other dietary requirements as well as avoiding gluten, so this app’s extra functionality will allow you to choose from 14 allergen options to find suitable products for your diet, no matter what you’re avoiding.”

The Gluten free food checker runs alongside Coeliac UK’s existing Gluten-free on the Move app, which lists its accredited and recommended gluten-free venues, supermarkets signed up to the Gluten-free Guarantee and its Food and Drink Directory.

It worked with FoodMaestro to develop the app, which can be downloaded free by Coeliac UK members on iPhone and Android devices.

Coeliac disease is caused by an autoimmune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, which causes damage to the gut lining. The only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet, which, if not stuck to, can lead to other conditions such as malnutrition, osteoporosis and small bowel cancer.

Coeliac UK believes one in 100 people in the UK have coeliac disease but only 24% had been diagnosed. There were an estimated half a million people who had the condition without knowing it, which the charity is trying to tackle with its campaign, ‘Is it coeliac disease?’.