THE STATS
Over half of Brits (51%) admit they struggle to know what to cook for a gluten free guest for dinner, with a shocking one in five (18%) saying they would refuse to cook for someone with a gluten free diet, our new research has revealed.
The nationwide survey comes as we launch our new product, Gluten Free Soft Pittas, which makes dry pittas a thing of the past. As part of the launch, we are shining a light on the common misconceptions around gluten free food and helping the nation be more accommodating to guests that are gluten free.
The research unveils a lack of understanding in the UK on what gluten is and which food products are free from it – with only one in four (25%) Brits who can correctly identify what gluten is. What’s more, over half of Brits (51%) think garden peas are off-limits for gluten-free diners, and a whopping 69% mistakenly believe rice contains gluten. Meanwhile, cheese, eggs, fish, and cucumber were all listed as some of the weirder items that gluten-free respondents have been asked if they’re ok to eat. Shockingly, even water made the list.
DINING OUT WHEN GLUTEN FREE
With regards to dining attitudes, over a third (35%) of those who follow a gluten free diet admit they prefer to eat at home because it is less hassle, and one in four (24%) say they have felt judged as a ‘fussy eater’ when eating with company. When it comes to dinner invites, over a quarter of Brits (27%) admit they would avoid inviting someone over for a meal if they were gluten free, and one in four (25%) said they would request that gluten free guests bring their own food.
bringing people together
Jonathan Warburton, Chairman of Warburtons, said: “Can you believe that over a quarter of folks in Britain won’t invite their gluten-free mates over for dinner? It’s daft! At Warburtons, we’re all about bringing people together at the dinner table, and if someone’s got dietary needs, we believe they should still be part of the feast. Gluten-free eaters shouldn’t miss out on family dinners or settle for bland food, which is why we’re always looking at how we can create new, tasty Gluten Free products that everyone can enjoy.”
Find a stockist