Public Servant Lifestyle

World travel guide published to help people on gluten-free diets.

Help is at hand for those on gluten-free diets who are travelling abroad this summer. A new book that gives helpful information to people on a gluten-free diet has been released.

What Is Coeliac Disease?

Coeliac disease is a sensitivity to gluten, which is a protein, found in wheat, which affects the small intestine. This means that people with Coeliac disease must maintain a strict gluten-free diet all their lives. Going on holidays can make this particularly tough, which is why many people prefer to take their own gluten-free bread, pasta, biscuits, etc... with them when they go abroad.

Coeliac disease is the most common genetic disease in the world. Screening studies show that there are hundreds of thousands of people in Britain undiagnosed with Coeliac disease. They may be suffering from symptoms as varied as tiredness, irritable bowel or mouth ulcers. If not treated it can have serious long-term implications, such as bowel cancer or osteoporosis.

Travelling Abroad

The recent Foot and Mouth outbreak caused particular problems for those who need to take special food with them when travelling abroad. Due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak, many people on special diets faced the worrying possibility that food they needed to take on holiday with them would be confiscated at the airport.

In response to these fears and to encourage safe gluten-free eating abroad, a World Travel Guide has been produced with information for travellers on how to eat gluten-free in 40 different countries. The guide gives information on national dishes suitable for a gluten-free diet, as well as phrases in 30 languages enabling the traveller to ask about the food's ingredients. People on a gluten-free diet can use the guide to eat safely without missing out on all local delicacies.

For the not-so adventurous, stockists of special gluten-free products are also listed. The guide is published by The Coeliac Society.

Terry Eccles, chief executive of The Coeliac Society says, "Gluten is very difficult to avoid, when eating away from home, as it is in so many food products. This guide will make it possible for people with Coeliac disease to enjoy foreign travel with minimal risk."

For more information visit Coeliac UK - the charity for people with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis: www.coeliac.co.uk

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More information available in Travel Information, Books