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Coeliac disease and holidays
Coeliac disease is the most common genetic disorder in the world
and is caused by sensitivity to dietary gluten, a type of protein
found in wheat, barley, rye and oats. People with Coeliac (Celiac
in the USA) disease must maintain a strict gluten-free diet all
their lives as common foods containing ordinary flour are toxic
to them. They require gluten-free bread, pastry, pasta, biscuits,
etc. which can cause problems eating out, and especially when
going on holiday. Sufferers of Dermatitis herpetiformis also need
a gluten free diet. Terry Eccles, Ex-Chief Executive of The Coeliac
Society, Coeliac UK, said "gluten
is very difficult to avoid when eating away from home as it is in
so many food products". There is a constant need to check
with hotel or restaurant proprietors, chefs and waiting staff that
the food offered is gluten free and is prepared in a manner which
avoids any possible contamination with gluten, as the proteins
may even be present on surfaces used for food preparation or cooking.
Catering for a guten-free diet.
Within the UK there is a slowly
increasing number of hotels, guest houses and bed & breakfasts
with the understanding and capability to ensure the provision
of food free of gluten for their guests. One such guest house,
specialising in gluten free catering for coeliacs and sufferers
from dermatitis herpetiformis, is Jenkin Hill Cottage, which is
located in a small village just outside Keswick in the Northern
Lake District.
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