Soaring Prices and Shortages Hit Gluten-Free Shoppers Extra Hard

I've noticed most places have cut back or quit carrying gluten products were I live. Those that still have them are switching more to soy heavy plant based foods that I can't eat. The slots for the normal gluten free foods tend to be empty more often then not. If they stay empty long enough they get removed. I've started ordering my favorites by the case from the manufacturers just get the basics. I've had to quite even looking at prices and just budget a 100 order every month. Which means sometime I just don't have something for a few months because it isn't that items turn to be ordered.

The hardest for me has been the lack of ready made meals. I used them to keep weight on me when I'm too unwell to cook and the person who helps me is unable to. It has turned into a several hour struggle while sick going from store to store to find enough meals to last while they are gone. There is also no way I can afford them at 8 or 9 dollars a meal. Luckily the person who helps me out covers the difference since them being out of town is what increased my food cost. But if I didn't have this help I'd find myself living off of pretty much peanut butter for days at a time.

It feels like we have back stepped more then a decade on food availability. Going to the store in a large city feels like shopping in a backwater 10 years ago. Only different being is the workers in the city at least have heard of gluten, they just can't help me.

I noticed that Gluten free Oreos used to be close to the same price as the rest of the oreos, about half the price of other gluten free cookies. Now the price is double.

This morning I noticed gluten free bread was $9.29/loaf in the freezer section of a local store.  I live in Alberta, Canada & gluten free flours have risen here as well as ready made products.  

I recently discovered an interesting recipe for wraps (or flat pancakes):

rinse,  then soak 1 cup red lentils in 2 cups water for 3 hours, after the soaking time is up, simply blend the lentil water mixture.

It becomes a flat pancake consistency.  I added a dash of salt & fried in a oiled frying pan like pancakes.

They were delicious & very reasonably priced to make.

4 minutes ago, Guest Patricia said:

This morning I noticed gluten free bread was $9.29/loaf in the freezer section of a local store.  I live in Alberta, Canada & gluten free flours have risen here as well as ready made products.  

I recently discovered an interesting recipe for wraps (or flat pancakes):

rinse,  then soak 1 cup red lentils in 2 cups water for 3 hours, after the soaking time is up, simply blend the lentil water mixture.

It becomes a flat pancake consistency.  I added a dash of salt & fried in a oiled frying pan like pancakes.

They were delicious & very reasonably priced to make.

Be careful with using dried lentils. Gluten Free Watchdog sampled dried lentils and found them to be heavily cross contaminated with wheat.

When i first went gluten free twelve years ago, there were not a lot of ready made products and only one, really low quality brand that ruled the gluten free industry. The variety and quantity of gluten free products really took off during the past decade. I came to expect that I would always find my go to products on the grocery shelf. Since the pandemic, I  can't even find basic gluten free bread and when I do, I'm paying $8-$9 for a smaller than average loaf of bread. I'm back to making my baked goods from scratch and ordering ingredients online. Even raw ingredients are expensive and don't have a long enough shelf life to buy for quantity discounts. I agree with the previous comment in that we've gone backwards and lost a lot of the forward progress and momentum to produce a variety of ready made tasty gluten free products. 

The price of gluten free bread is high, and not very good, so I have started making a flax bread, the flour is expensive but at least it's good.

During the first Pandemic wave I did notice there was a shortage of gluten-free products but at least in my part of the US that seems to have relaxed and we don't have any problem getting what we want, either ready made things like bread or raw baking ingredients. However, all of it is considerably more expensive. I would estimate that prices are 40% higher for gluten-free bread than before the pandemic. We can get twin bags of Franz gluten-free bread at Costco for a considerable savings over buying single loaves at say, Walmart or Safeway so we go that route whenever we have occasion to make a Costco run. We live about 30 minutes drive from the nearest one so we don't go just for the bread.

I've been in a mental state of food insecurity since I was diagnosed with Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity and Lactose Intolerance almost 2 years ago.   Undiagnosed/misdiagnosed symptoms for many years.  I live in a rural area small town.  Not even one traffic light.  We have 2 small grocery stores within a 30 minute drive, and neither store carries much in the way of gluten free foods or prep items (1:1 flour, Xanthum Gum, etc.).  So, I have to drive over an hour to the nearest large chain grocery store (Kroger and Walmart here) to even stand a chance of getting items off of a shelf.  Then, if I'm lucky enough to find anything, the price is just vulgar.  Triple the cost or higher of "regular" food.  I haven't had much success on line either.  I've been reading articles, watching videos etc. to re-learn how to eat and cook.   So, I'm currently focusing on foods that are naturally safe and that my torn up digestive system can handle.  When I find a sale on meat, frozen plain fruits and veggies, canned items, dry beans etc.  I bulk buy or at least get whatever limit the store has set.  Then, I pressure can it or dehydrate it, vacuume seal it, etc. to make it more shelf stable.  Once I get my pantry stocked with at least a one year supply of that, my plan is to move on to purchasing whole grains in bulk and milling my own flour.  Grain grinders are not cheap, but then, nothing to do with food is.  Commercially prepared gluten free foods and baking needs have such a limited shelf life, and outrageous price tag, they really are not worth purchasing.  Not to mention that most still have added ingredients that I don't want or can't tolerate.  Next on my plan is growing more of my own food and preserving that.  The bottom line is, I will not be held hostage by this BS.

On 1/24/2023 at 5:37 AM, Guest Elisa said:

I've noticed most places have cut back or quit carrying gluten products were I live. Those that still have them are switching more to soy heavy plant based foods that I can't eat. The slots for the normal gluten free foods tend to be empty more often then not. If they stay empty long enough they get removed. I've started ordering my favorites by the case from the manufacturers just get the basics. I've had to quite even looking at prices and just budget a 100 order every month. Which means sometime I just don't have something for a few months because it isn't that items turn to be ordered.

The hardest for me has been the lack of ready made meals. I used them to keep weight on me when I'm too unwell to cook and the person who helps me is unable to. It has turned into a several hour struggle while sick going from store to store to find enough meals to last while they are gone. There is also no way I can afford them at 8 or 9 dollars a meal. Luckily the person who helps me out covers the difference since them being out of town is what increased my food cost. But if I didn't have this help I'd find myself living off of pretty much peanut butter for days at a time.

It feels like we have back stepped more then a decade on food availability. Going to the store in a large city feels like shopping in a backwater 10 years ago. Only different being is the workers in the city at least have heard of gluten, they just can't help me.

 

I've been on a strict gluten free diet since I was diagnosed in April, 2022. My wife has been very good at helping me stay gluten free including eating gluten free main dishes as well. We don't eat out much at all as most restaurants have very limited or little gluten free offerings. The prices of all gluten free products are just ridiculous but we feel that we have no easy options. I use a lot of gluten free wraps, but they a $1 per wrap and breads are just crazy high so I use them sparingly.

BJ's has a few very good products such as gluten-free breaded chicken tenders and spinach egg frittatas, but that's all bout it. Both BJ's and Sam's Club have gluten-free protein bars which are great and about the only places where you can find them.

Some stores, such as Walmart, have both gluten-free frozen and non frozen sections but most have items just scattered throughout the stores making it very frustrating in not only finding them but knowing what items they have.

I feel very much like we are being discriminated against out of the apathy by grocery stores and restaurants. What will it take for them to understand that there are many thousands of gluten-free or Celiacs, such as myself, that shouldn't be ignored and need gluten-free groceries and meal options!?!?