# Why is gluten-free food so expensive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 19, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296 "2015-08-19T23:46:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/21 "2015-08-20T15:23:58Z")
Not everyone avoiding wheat has celiac disease. I recently found out I’m allergic to wheat (not just gluten) and it gives me hives. My allergist told me that there are five major allergens in food (soy, corn, dairy, wheat and eggs) and I did an elimination diet to find out which was mine. If those are the five most common allergens then I bet there are other people like me who have vague allergies to wheat and don’t even know it until and unless they have a major flare-up and consult an allergist. So, there may be a lot of people who will feel better after going gluten-free who never had a “medical diagnosis” but who nevertheless have a wheat allergy. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/22 "2015-08-20T15:32:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I would think you would need production lines devoted to gluten-free products, just to avoid cross-contamination. So there’s that cost. Exactly. Bob’s Red Mill makes both regular and gluten-free oatmeal. The difference is that one of them is produced in an environment that is free of gluten ‘contaminants’. It’s also made in smaller quantities, so the price is higher. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/23 "2015-08-20T16:19:18Z")
Plenty of naturally gluten free food is cheap - fresh vegetables, for example. The price goes up with grains (have to prevent cross-contamination) and processed foods (may need alternative ingredients). ---
**Author:** ![Dana\_Scully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@Dana\_Scully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dana_Scully)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/24 "2015-08-20T20:14:42Z")
> [@Cardboard](#): > > Is it because the producers know health nuts are just that dumb that they’ll actually pay the extra few dollars, no questions asked, or is the process to remove gluten so involved that it necessitates increasing the price of gluten-free food? Because people will pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/25 "2015-08-20T22:08:27Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Have any of you tried to make gluten-free bread? I have. I have an aunt with serious celiac disease and when she visited I made it. You need all kinds of special ingredients and it never really works. Recipes have gotten better over the past few years. I have a niece with serious celiac disease and my sister-in-law (her mother) has gluten sensitivity issues. Last Easter I made yeast-risen GF cinnamon rolls that were pretty good – had brown rice flour, potato starch, corn starch and lecithin subbing for the wheat flour. I also made some GF brownies that were amazingly good. So much so that I made sure she took all the leftovers home so I wouldn’t scarf them all down. She told me later she had to freeze them to keep from eating them all in a day or two. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/26 "2015-08-20T22:37:47Z")
The price is being partly buffeted by the increase in demand due to more people eating gluten-free not because they’ve been medically determined to have celiac disease but simply because it’s perceived as healthy like organic food. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/27 "2015-08-21T02:20:33Z")
Regarding labeling…one of the things that stood out to me in Brazil the last time was there was that every single product is clearly labeled “This product contains gluten” or “This product does not contain gluten” It was neat to see that they were far ahead of us in labeling. Made shopping quite easy too. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > In other words, it has been diagnosed by a doctor that you have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity. > > Celiac disease affects only about 1% of the population. I suspect that the majority of people going gluten-free have merely bought into the marketing, and are willing to pay high prices for something they don’t need and which does no good (and can harm them if they don’t compensate). Sadly, it is difficult to diagnose–my wife’s gastro MD explained that in order for the tests to indicate if she truly has celiac disease she would need to eat enough gluten that she would get sick again, if that’s the cause. I’m not ready for her to spend another 6 months without eating _any_ food, being fed TPN through her arm; she has done that twice already. So she eats gluten free. The doctor agreed. He didn’t want her to risk it either. There is nothing quite like the desperation of trying to find out what makes you or a loved one sick–you try this, then try that, then go to a new doctor, then … always hoping that this time you won’t get sick. I imagine that quite a few people who do not eat gluten fit this description. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/28 "2015-08-21T11:04:10Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > There are plenty of foods that are both cheap and gluten-free. Rice, already mentioned, is one. So are potatoes, corn, lettuce, tomatoes, eggplants, certain cuts of beef, pork, and chicken, etc, etc, etc, etc. > > Now if you want to eat foods that normally have gluten that are processed to be gluten-free, like bread and pasta, you’ll pay more because of at least that extra processing. Why would you expect otherwise? All _ **cuts** _ of beef, pork and chicken are gluten free. It is when you turn them into sausage or other _processed_ items that you may end up with gluten involved. ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/29 "2015-08-21T17:52:39Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > All _ **cuts** _ of beef, pork and chicken are gluten free. It is when you turn them into sausage or other _processed_ items that you may end up with gluten involved. I have a friend with a wheat allergy, and another with gluten sensitivity. Through shopping with them, I’ve learned that the number of seasoning mixes containing wheat flour is ridiculous. Beef jerky, potato chips, mixed nuts… So many products that would seem naturally gluten-free are actually a gluten and wheat minefield. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/30 "2015-08-21T19:51:03Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > I think it’s a combination of low volumes and the high price of specialty foods. Also wheat flour is cheap and abundant and a gluten-free substitute is going to cost more. They charge what people are willing pay. People weren’t willing to pay anything in my city, we had a gluten free bakery and it didn’t last very long. Your answer sound right to me. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/31 "2015-08-22T00:02:30Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > All _ **cuts** _ of beef, pork and chicken are gluten free, All cuts of meat are certainly gluten free, but not all of them are also cheap. ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/32 "2015-08-22T01:40:19Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > There are plenty of foods that are both cheap and gluten-free. Rice, already mentioned, is one. So are potatoes, corn, lettuce, tomatoes, eggplants, certain cuts of beef, pork, and chicken, etc, etc, etc, etc. > > Now if you want to eat foods that normally have gluten that are processed to be gluten-free, like bread and pasta, you’ll pay more because of at least that extra processing. Why would you expect otherwise? I don’t understand why only certain cuts of meat would be gluten free. Meat does not contain wheat, rye or barley (as mentioned in the post for the UCLA study) so what difference would the meat cut make. I agree on the other vegetables of course. Bob ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/33 "2015-08-22T01:42:37Z")
> [@urban1a](#): > > I don’t understand why only certain cuts of meat would be gluten free. Meat does not contain wheat, rye or barley (as mentioned in the post for the UCLA study) so what difference would the meat cut make. I agree on the other vegetables of course. > > Bob Like I already said above, ALL cuts of meat are gluten free, but only certain cuts are both **CHEAP** and gluten free. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/34 "2015-08-22T01:50:09Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > Like I already said above, ALL cuts of meat are gluten free, but only certain cuts are both **CHEAP** and gluten free. no, all cuts are gluten free, just make sure they are not preseasoned. I buy dirt cheap dead cow and pig slabs and grind to make my own sausage and other ground stuff [I make a killer meatloaf with no added crumbs, just egg to hold it together and add some fat and richness, and herbs and spices.] You are responsible for your own budget … I never claimed price point for anything, just that animals are by nature gluten free when parted out. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/35 "2015-08-22T01:58:34Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > no, all cuts are gluten free Did you even read what I wrote? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/36 "2015-08-22T16:21:32Z")
I’ll just leave this here: [Scientists who found gluten sensitivity evidence have now shown it doesn’t exist](http://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-who-found-evidence-for-gluten-sensitivity-have-now-shown-it-doesn-t-exist?perpetual=yes&limitstart=1) Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity could be the new Chinese Restaurant Syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/37 "2015-08-22T17:46:40Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > All cuts of meat are certainly gluten free, but not all of them are also cheap. > [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > Like I already said above, ALL cuts of meat are gluten free, but only certain cuts are both **CHEAP** and gluten free. > [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > Did you even read what I wrote? So what cuts of meat are cheap and contain gluten? Unless you’re saying “The sky is always blue, but only parts of it are sky-blue” - or some such. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/38 "2015-08-22T18:53:31Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > In her case at least, it appears that the immune system now reacts to gluten by destroying certain cells in the intestine called vilii, which are required for absorbtion of nutrients. Villi aren’t individual cells; they are very small, finger-like extensions on the wall of the intestine. They are, as you say, responsible for nutrient absorption, and in a person with celiac they are reduced in size and effectiveness by ingestion of gluten. As others have said, the proliferation of people who pursue a gluten-free diet without actually having celiac has increased the number and the variety and the quality of gluten-free products available on the market. The range of gluten-free products available today is far, far superior to what it was 20, or even 10 years ago. The downside of this, for people who have celiac (like my mother, diagnosed as a kid), is that some restaurants and food providers take requests for gluten-free products less seriously than they should. They roll their eyes at the new diet fad, failing to distinguish between the faddists and the people who have a serious medical need to avoid gluten. It sometimes makes life a bit hard for the true celiac sufferers. This [article](http://www.slate.com/articles/life/food/2015/08/i_was_gluten_free_before_it_was_cool_diagnosed_with_celiac_in_the_1990s.single.html) talks a bit about the phenomenon. > [@](#): > > I’ve found the gluten-free boom weird to live through. I went from feeling mildly exotic, like some odd but domesticated tropical pet, to the unwitting embodiment of a whole host of clichés about fad dieting and female calorie-phobia. My reason for saying this is not (just) to assert my primacy in the great war against gluten, or lay claim to O.G. status when it comes to asking the question, “Is this soup thickened with a roux?” It’s also to convey the uniquely strange feeling of having a lifelong trait—even one as arbitrary as intolerance to a wheat protein hybrid—turned into a punch line by the culture at large. > > \ > > For me, the exact moment when I knew the tide had turned against gluten came in 2013. I was at an Italian restaurant, and asked the waiter, a big guy with a mustache like a pelt, whether the chicken wings were breaded. He leaned down and squinted at me. “Why would you want to know that?” he asked. > > “I’m allergic to gluten,” I replied. > > He gave a mighty eye roll. “Not another one,” he said, and left. > > After that, I began to notice a general chill in my relationships with waiters across the tristate area. Whereas they had once reacted to the word gluten with befuddlement and concern, now they knew what gluten was and responded to my questions like GIs snapping to attention, with marked-up menus and rattled-off ingredients. But the curl in their lip was unmistakable. ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/39 "2015-08-22T19:28:26Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > So what cuts of meat are cheap and contain gluten? None, but plenty are gluten-free but decidedly not cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296/40 "2015-08-22T21:56:33Z")
WTF? Is it really that hard to understand me when I say that all cuts of meat are gluten free? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-gluten-free-food-so-expensive/728296.md?page=3)