836 replies to this topic

[electrochel]

Thanks a mill, i will make a note of that.
I was wondering about the price of things and which brads are best but i guess i have to try them.

I think i will bring the likes of sauces and dried curry sauce with me.

Michelle

Celiac 15 months

[Saz]

Thanks a mill, i will make a note of that.
I was wondering about the price of things and which brads are best but i guess i have to try them.

I think i will bring the likes of sauces and dried curry sauce with me.

Michelle

Celiac 15 months

Be careful doing that. We have some very strict customs laws here. Certain things with dairy products, as the the sauces and powders would be are not allowed in.

[Kjas]

umm...

I agree with the Ayams. They mainly do Thai / Malaysian food bases, sauces and things like coconut milk and I haven't gotten sick from them even though I'm fairly sensitive. Price was it's about $2.50 a can of coconut milk and usually $4-5 for a base or sauce.

For indian, the Pataks range here are also gluten free. I find most of them taste better if you add a half a can of the Ayam coconut milk to it. I can vouch for my favourite, the cashew marsala. About $5 also per base or sauce.

We have a range called Freedom Foods which are definitely safe. They do biscuits, breakfast cereals and other things like that. Biscuits are about $4 a packet and the cereals about $7 a box.

LED also do small snacks and bars and things like that, I know they're safe.

I know Coles import some Organ (they do pasta and bread mixes, etc) stuff, since Coles are the official "supplier" for the australia celiac disease association or whatever it is. So Coles generally has a good range. Woolworths have a range but you have to be more careful in their health food section because some of the products will be processed with or near gluten and it should say if it is on the packet.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Sadly, food here is expensive and getting more so. It keeps driving up the cost of living and makes it harder for people like us, as all the cheap stuff is mainly gluten based. Goodluck!

[electrochel]

There's nothing in the sauces i would bring, the curry powder is jst finely ground spices and corn flour, I have a soy sauce and a Worchester sauce i haven't opened yet so their sealed, would that not be ok? Sure its fo consumption im not planting anything or bringing in meat or dairy based stuff.

I also have 2 packets of g.f noodles i bought from a heath shop i was going to bring those too as they were expensive and i never finished the packets...?

Thanks for the reply

[anabananakins]

There's nothing in the sauces i would bring, the curry powder is jst finely ground spices and corn flour, I have a soy sauce and a Worchester sauce i haven't opened yet so their sealed, would that not be ok? Sure its fo consumption im not planting anything or bringing in meat or dairy based stuff.

I also have 2 packets of g.f noodles i bought from a heath shop i was going to bring those too as they were expensive and i never finished the packets...?

Thanks for the reply

If it's in a packet from the supermarket and the ingredients are all clearly labeled it *might* be ok, but that's all the sort of thing you can get here really easily, I wouldn't waste space in my luggage. Australia is super, super strict, I think only New Zealanders can relate. It's depressing dragging stuff all the way over here only to lose it going through quarantine. And my friend sent me tea for my birthday and it contained tiny bits of dried citrus and it was confiscated before the box arrived, I got a letter in place of that part of my present

The noodles are probably fine, I've had no problems with bagels, bread, english muffins and breakfast cereal. And they are light, so no great loss if they say no.

[Saz]

Have been looking into frozen meals and just ended up getting cranky. Some of the roast ones would be ok if they just made the gravy/sauce differently. Surely making them from a corn base wouldn't cost that much more. More people could buy so it would even out. The Woolies curries can be frozen but they are really expensive. Just be nice to have something cheap to stick in the freezer sometimes.

I'm not expecting chicken and pasta meals but maybe one that was roast and vegies would be good.

[Kjas]

I don't know how sensitive you are, but I know some of the sunbeam packaged meals (the butter chicken etc) are gluten free. I think there is one or two in the frozen section that are also from other companies that are also, you might just have to do a lot of packet reading.

Apart from that there's the expensive gluten free meals which are 10 bucks a box and the last thing from cheap

[Saz]

I don't know how sensitive you are, but I know some of the sunbeam packaged meals (the butter chicken etc) are gluten free. I think there is one or two in the frozen section that are also from other companies that are also, you might just have to do a lot of packet reading.

Apart from that there's the expensive gluten free meals which are 10 bucks a box and the last thing from cheap

There used to be one or two of the weight watchers ones that were ok but then they helpfully decided to put wheat in them. Really annoys me when companies do this - I used to buy Nice and Natural nut bars all the time and then changed the recipe to have wheat.

I managed to get some food from England and am currently enjoying a PROPER crumpet from Tesco free from range. I even managed to get it to toast evenly. Wish Woolworths would sell them like this instead of the packet mix they havve. Tried it several times now, both following the instructions exactly and trying a different way and they never work.

[beebs]

Glad you found this thread! I'm sorry your friend has been sick. I guess those places aren't recommended.

The gluten-free stuff is pricier, usually. The best brand of pasta in my opinion is the San Remo stuff. In Coles it's in the 'health foods' aisle with all the gluten free stuff, I think Woolworths stock it in with the regular pasta.

White wings flour (gluten free aisle) works pretty much like regular flour. about $5 for 750g I think.

sauces - the asian stir fry sauces are well labeled, "Ayam" are a great brand and will clearly say if gluten free. Likewise soy sauce is labeled and in the regular section.

There's usually a section of frozen stuff - we've talked about the bellyhoo pies which are awesome, but pricey ($10 for 2).

Bread is about $6 a loaf

Sausages will all be labelled gluten free - and most are.

Bacon is also usually labelled gluten free

Let me know if there's any product in particular you're curious about and I can look for you. I don't really eat many pre-packaged foods, so I forget what's available.

One thing you'll find is that in general groceries are a lot more expensive in Australia than in the UK (but eating out is more affordable)

I hope you have a fabulous time travelling around!

I've an irish friend who is Coeliac as well - we spent heaps of time comparing notes and she lived here for 2 years, as far as I can gather - we are about on par with you guys price wise. Our labelling laws are stricter than yours, our gluten-free food has to be below 3ppm. You still need to do your research - you can't just turn up to any dodgy dive and hope they are gluten free, do a quick internet search of the gluten free places in the area before you go out to eat!! Some places take it seriously - some don't.
As for bringing food in here, I personally wouldn't - our customs/quarantine is the strictest in the world. They will deffo NOT like dried curry powers and spices. Its up to you, but if you don't declare it then you face a fine. You just need to have a quick look at the aussie tv show border security to see what I mean (its a reality tv show dealing with everything that happens on the boarders customs, quarantine and immigration)

[Kazz]

hi peg, im new to this site and found it very interesting reading all your problems. i have been coeliac all my life iam 50 now, but didnt know till about 5 years ago i got severe pains about 15 years ago and went to docs and he told me i was an alcoholic because my folate was extreamly low.. mind you i DONT drink, i told him that i dont drink and he called me a liar and kicked me out of his room.. so i gave up on docs ( quacks that dont know anything ) and put up with the pain for another 10 years but couldnt put up with it anymore so i decided to go to another doctor in another area.. he did blood tests and said i have coeliac disease and should never eat wheat again for the rest of my life.. so i thought well thats easy i dont eat bread or biscuits , after going shopping and reading all the jars and packets that i was going to buy .. they ALL HAD wheat in them.. so i left empty handed and very depressed and STARVING.. i didnt know who to turn too to ask advice..for a year all i ate was patties wheat free pies, fruit n vegies, my daughter looked up the internet and told me it wasnt WHEAT i had to avoid but GLUTEN.. so i went back to the docs and saw a different one and asked her is it GLUTEN iam not allowed to eat or WHEAT, she said gluten.. so now i dont eat either .. i cant trust them .. they dont know what coelic disease is or what it can harm in your body.. i have now after 10 years found out that RESERCH HAS BEEN DONE ON CORN AND RICE AND IT " DOES" CONTAIN GLUTEN.. UNDERSTANDABLE THAT THEY ARE GRAINS.. Dr Peter Osborne who works with the coelic society in USA has A SITE called www.(Company Name Removed - They Spammed This Forum and are Banned) his site is amazing with very helpful topics.. you should check it out it might be able to answer most of your questions .. i think it was you that said you have a sore dry throat .. i have have that problem for over 2 years and went to a throat and ear specialist who put a camera down my throat to see if i had cancer, he said there was nothing wrong with me.. damn docs.. there is something wrong or i wouldnt HAVE a sore throat for 2 YEARS ..my hair is falling out in the brush loads my teath are falling out and fracturing iam getting psoriasis and arthritis and i got cataract 7 years ago and could only afford to get one eye fixed ( $8000 ) completely blind in the other one now, i still bloat after eating food or drink and iam COMPLETELY GLUTEN FREE, IAM GETTING WORSE NOT BETTER BUT after reading Dr Osborne artical on vitamin defeciency I KNOW WHY NOW..my body has been abused for so long now i dont think it can repair itself without MY help and stuff the doctors my dry sore throat might be skurvy, vitamin C defeciency so im going to the docs again next week to get them to do a test on ALL my vitamins and im NOT leaving till they do.. iam sick of being sick

[mushroom]

Hi Kazz, and welcome. I think Peg is long gone from the forum now, but she started this thread where we down under folk can get together and chat. I wouldn't pay too much attention, personally to the rice warning; the corn one has a little more validity because the corn gluten (all grains have some from of gluten) is a lot like the wheat one. I know I do not tolerate it, but for me I think it is a different part of the protein fraction in both wheat and corn that bothers me. Most of our members tolerate corn perfectly well. The glutens you need worry about are those in wheat, barley and rye. You don't often come across rye but you willl find barley in malted things - vinegar, beer, sweeteners. Since celiac disease causes lack of absorption of nutrients, you are most likely deficient in several different nutrients, and let's hope getting the right supplements can get you back on the road to recovery. It is very disappointing when your treating doctors can't steer you in the right direction.

Hang in there. Things will get better. You have fouond a place to help you.

[diandliam]

Hi Kazz,
Where do you live? Perhaps we can help you to find a local doctor, support groups and such?

[diandliam]

Hi all,
Hope you are all well (or improving!).

I'm a member with Freedom Foods and received an email from them today which included this info:


Allergy Awareness Week begins 14May and the following promotion will be running in support of this event:

Coles and Woolies are stocking Freedom foods at 20% discount.
Coles: 16 - 29 May
Woolworths: 9 - 22 May

Also Gluten Free Expo listings:

AUCKLAND (NZ) 9 - 10 June

Sydney: 24 - 25 August
Melbourne: 15 September

Ever seen a gluten free ad on tv? I haven't but they are advertising in several regions:
http://www.freedomfoods.com.au/HOME.aspx

Regards,

Di

[Saz]

That's good. I've noticed in recent times that gluten-free stuff in both Coles and Woolies is on special more often. Freedom Foods are one brand that is usually very reasonable when on special.

Have seen recently in coles more and more fresh heat and eat meals. I don't think any are gluten-free. I thought there might be one which was satay chicken things but no they put wheat in the flavouring. Early days with this kind of thing though, they have only just come available so I guess we can't hope for to much.

There is one or two new Coles brand desserts that are gluten-free. I THINK it is the coffee pana cotta and the raspberry one. It's not labled but ok if you read the ingredients.

Also at Woolies there is a few in OMG! dessert range that are ok if you read the ingredients.

I remember when Freedom used to do a frozen range as well, the sticky date puddings were delicious.

[diandliam]

Freedom Foods are one of only three gluten-free brands I can handle. (the other two are Thailand produced rice noodle). I have DH and super-sensitive so I respect Freedom Foods for their commitment to having a no-CC policy. If it wasn't for them I'd be in big trouble (wrt calorie intake). Their Apple and Cinnamon Crunchola is yum.