Friday, November 16, 2012

Money Matters


     I've often wondered exactly how much more money I'm spending on gluten free foods vs a regular item.  I've read studies that say that gluten free items are on average 242% more expensive than their regular counterparts.  I know that grocery prices are regional and that not everyone shares the same taste, but that is a pretty staggering number.  I decided to test this by doing some cost analysis.  The brand I find most often in the grocery stores for gluten free foods is Udi's, so I decided to compare the cost per ounce of an Udi's product with that of an average cost of a comparable regular product.




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     405.

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      Dietetics: The Official Journal Of The British Dietetic Association 2011, 24 (5), 479-86.

Singh, J.Whelan, K. (2012). Research is needed on the true economic cost of a gluten-free diet. Journal of Human  
    Nutrition & Dietetics, 25 (4), 406-407.

 Seifert, J. (2011). HOW TO GO GLUTEN-FREE ON A BUDGET. Today's Chiropractic Lifestyle, 40 (6), 30-30.

 Stevens L ; Rashid M (2008). Gluten-free and regular foods: a cost comparison. Canadian            

Journal of Dietetic Practice & Research, 69 (3), 147-50.











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6 comments:

  1. M.V.E.November 26, 2012 at 10:14 AM

    I usually buy candy at the dollar store to eat at the movies. I really like Lemon Heads which I recently realized was glutton free. I never realized it before until the subject became personal to me after finding out one of my new friends is glutton intolerant. But the sum of this story is that are cheap candies that are glutton free. Or at least Lemon Heads are. :)

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    Replies
    1. KBHNovember 26, 2012 at 10:28 AM

      Candy is actually a great category for gluten free items. Sugar is gluten free, and Lemon Heads are mostly sugar and citric acid. Hot Tamales, Now and Later, and most chocolate bars are also gluten free.

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  2. Hannah DNovember 26, 2012 at 10:19 AM

    Wow... I had no idea gluten free food was so expensive . Do you know anything on people who create their own gluten free foods, such as bread? I've heard that simply making your own food from scratch is a lot cheaper.

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    Replies
    1. KBHNovember 26, 2012 at 10:32 AM

      There are many recipes out there for gluten free bread, but the level of involvement is usually more than most people are willing to undertake. I have a bread machine that I have used, but the hours it takes to make bread are usually better served working on homework.

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  3. MNHNovember 26, 2012 at 10:20 AM

    Very surprising findings. Will you cover any ways to live on a gluten free diet that won't be as expensive? I think it'd be a smart move to go over it in a future post.

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  4. AlexNovember 26, 2012 at 10:44 AM

    I would say that is not surprising. You have a niche food service with special treatment/care needed for the food. Add that to the fact that you have to eat that type of food and you have something where they can jack up the price and people will still have to buy it.

    ReplyDelete

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