There’s no such thing as gluten friendly
Eating out as a coeliac can be a stressful experience. You want to make sure that you get the delicious food you deserve, but also that it won’t make you sick. As awareness of gluten-related conditions increases, more and more restaurants are labelling dishes as ‘gluten friendly’. But what does this mean? Let’s take a look at why it’s so important to ask questions and always double check.
What Does Gluten Friendly Mean?
The term ‘gluten friendly’ is not an official designation, and its meaning can vary from place to place. Some restaurants might use the term to describe dishes that contain low levels of gluten – which may still cause an adverse reaction in someone with coeliac disease – while others might use it for meals that have been made with gluten-free ingredients, but haven’t been certified as gluten-free. The best way to find out is by asking the restaurant directly what their definition of ‘gluten friendly’ is.
Cross Contamination Risks
Asking questions is especially important if you are eating somewhere where cross contamination could occur. Cross contamination happens when food comes into contact with gluten containing ingredients – such as crumbs from bread or flour – either during preparation or storage. In some cases, even though the food itself doesn’t contain any gluten, trace amounts can still make people with coeliac disease ill. That’s why it’s important to ask about how your food has been prepared before ordering anything labelled ‘gluten friendly’. We often hear about venues telling their patrons that chips fried in the same fryer as regular chips are gluten free as the hot oil “kills” the gluten. Misconceptions like that lead to unnecessary sickness. Unless you see accreditation from Coeliac Australia on the menu then always ask the question
Choose With Confidence
At the end of the day, navigating eating out as a coeliac can be tricky – but it doesn’t need to be intimidating! Asking the right questions will help you feel confident in your choices and ensure that you wont have to worry about getting sick afterwards. And remember: even if a dish isn’t labelled as ‘gluten free’, there may still be options for you on the menu! Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask what accommodations can be made for your dietary needs – most chefs will be happy to help!
Of course we’ve opted for the safest possible route – full accreditation from Coeliac Australia. That’s how you know that any trip to the dob comes with a 100% gluten free guarantee. We know that Coeliac disease isn’t something to be trifled with and receiving full gluten free accreditation was the only way we know how to make you all feel completely safe. If you’ve struggled to find somewhere to eat out after your recent diagnosis then let us show you the dob difference. Check out our menu here for a list of all our amazing food.
