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HEALTH WATCH: Enjoy Wheat Free Pizza and Cakes!

Posted on: Wednesday, 13 July 2005, 12:01 CDT

AN intolerance to wheat is affecting more and more people.

There is some dispute as to whether it's actually the wheat grain that's the problem or the pesticides used in the growing of the cereal. Whatever it is eating anything with wheat in it can cause absolute misery. Surprisingly many processed foods contain wheatflour and it is vital to read the ingredients. Rusk for example usually contains wheatflour.

Some people confuse an allergy with an intolerance. So what's the difference?

A food allergy occurs when the body's immune system reacts to a food protein. This causes a chain reaction of chemical changes which cause swelling and irritation in certain parts of the body. Food allergies are most common in children and affect one per cent of the adult population.

In food intolerance the adverse reaction does not involve the immune system.

Food intolerance is triggered by a physical reaction to a good or food additive i.e. lactose intolerance. Among the most common food intolerances are milk, eggs, nuts, fish/shellfish, wheat/flour, chocolate and artificial colours.

A more serious form of intolerance comes from gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley and rye. It causes coeliac disease which is estimated to affect three quarters of people in the UK, with only one third of those actually diagnosed. Coeliac disease is a life long autoimmune illness. Some coeliacs are also sensitive to oats. Symptoms can vary but include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, tiredness, weight loss and anaemia.

Since I've mentioned my own wheat intolerance in these health pages a number of readers have also told me about theirs and have spoken about how difficult it is to get food that is wheat free.

One of the best on the market, the one that gives most variety, is DS Dietary Specials a brand name set up in 1998 by Chris Hook and which has become the UK's leading wheat and gluten-free brand with more than 30 products in the range. It's available in the Free From sections at Sainsbury's, Tesco and in some Morrison stores.

Chris Hook has an extensive knowledge of the UK's 'free from' market and his 15-year-old son is intolerant to wheat.

He says: "I originally set up the company to import a novel range of gluten, wheat-free baking mixes from the UK and to meet my son's intolerance to wheat. I had seen the struggle my wife had in catering for my son's intolerance and was keen to improve the choice of suitable meals she could provide for him so I started to look at developing frozen gluten, wheat free ready meals.

"We now have a unique range of frozen gluten, wheat-free foods from savoury pastry to sweet puddings, all tasting as good as their conventional counter parts, in fact many people struggle to taste the difference.

"It has made my son's life so much easier, he can have friends round for tea, they all eat pizza and nobody notices it is gluten, wheat free.

DS provide all kinds of bread, including soft white rolls which can be used for barbecued sausages, croissants, crackers and fruit loaf. They also do spaghetti and two other pastas, a whole range of biscuits and crispy bars, as well as cake mixes and their frozen and chilled range is extensive. It even includes a beef bolognese lasagne and Yorkshire puddings.

n For further information on Dietary Specials visit www.nutritionpoint.co.uk Dietary Specials Customer Care Line is 07041 544044.

Source: Belfast News Letter, The

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