| v> | | | | gluten-free foods, carrying 94% and 100% of the |
| | | | market basket items respectively, compared to |
| The two things that a person suddenly diagnosed | | | | availability of 41% in upscale markets and 36% in |
| with celiac disease will quickly learn are that gluten | | | | local grocery stores." Ref 1 |
| free foods can be hard to find, and they are | | | | HOW MUCH MORE? |
| expensive. Unfortunately if a celiac wants to get | | | | The price of the gluten-free foods was found to |
| well, they can't have any gluten in their diets, so | | | | be 79% more than their equivalent foods. Bread |
| they have to eat gluten free foods, regardless of | | | | and pasta was twice as expensive as their |
| expense. Find out how much more you are likely | | | | wheat-based counterparts. Cost was affected |
| to pay
| | | | more by shopping venue than geographic location. |
| Gluten Free MARKET GROWTH | | | | In this American study, GF cereals were found to |
| To give an indication of the size of the gluten free | | | | be the exception in that they cost about the |
| market, in 2004, Americans consumed 133 | | | | same. However in Australia, GF cereals tend to be |
| pounds of wheat per person. From July 2004 to | | | | much more expensive as they are often sold in |
| July 2005, consumers spent over $600 million on | | | | smaller boxes (half the weight) for the same price |
| gluten-free foods, an annual growth of 14.6%. | | | | as equivalent gluten cereals. It was found that |
| The market for GF foods and beverages in USA | | | | internet shopping portals were the most |
| in 2007 exceeded $700 million, and is forecast to | | | | expensive place to buy gluten-free foods, |
| be $1.7 billion in 2010. Ref2 | | | | followed by health food stores and upscale |
| ECONOMIC COSTS | | | | markets. Again in Australia the reverse appears |
| Time is money and gluten free is more money, a | | | | to be true as we generally find that online |
| simple fact. And while only a few studies have | | | | supermarkets are one of the most price |
| been made, they do give us a good indication of | | | | competitive locations - excluding postage costs. |
| what being a celiac can cost you at the cash | | | | The researchers (ref 1) admitted that they |
| register. | | | | performed the analysis over a relatively small |
| Consider this study in June 2007 "using data from | | | | sample number so it is wise to compare this with |
| the United States Department of Agriculture | | | | any other research. A study on GF Food cost at |
| (USDA) about typical household food consumption, | | | | Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia provides more |
| researchers assembled "market baskets" of | | | | evidence. Ref 2 |
| regular and gluten-free foods. The availability and | | | | The comparison was performed on prices for all |
| the difference in price between the 11 regular and | | | | food products labelled "gluten-free" and |
| gluten-free items in the market basket were | | | | comparable gluten-containing food from two |
| compared according the type of store and the | | | | large-chain general grocery stores. The |
| region in which the items were purchased. | | | | researchers compared the unit cost of each food, |
| Researchers surveyed local grocery stores, | | | | calculated as the price in dollars per 100 grams of |
| upscale grocery stores or regional chains, health | | | | each product. Not surprisingly, all 56 gluten-free |
| food stores, and 4 online sites. Regions of the | | | | products were more expensive than regular |
| country were represented by New York City and | | | | products. And in particular: |
| Westchester County, Portland OR, Atlanta GA, | | | | · The average unit price for |
| Rapid City SD, and Chicago IL." Ref 1 | | | | gluten-free products was $1.71 |
| "The researchers found that health food stores | | | | · The average unit price of regular |
| and online sites had the largest selection of | | | | products was $0. |