Gluten-free staples such as bread and biscuits are increasingly becoming a luxury, with a small branded loaf now costing nearly £4. Shoppers and campaigners warn that inflation and shrinking product ranges are making these essential foods unaffordable for people with coeliac disease.
While a standard 800g loaf of white bread can be bought for under £1, a smaller 550g gluten-free equivalent typically costs around £1.90. Branded products are even pricier: a 480g Promise gluten-free loaf now sells for £3.90 in many supermarkets. Alison Peters, who runs the website Coeliac Sanctuary, said: 'A decent gluten-free loaf now regularly costs about £4.'
According to Trolley.co.uk, a grocery price comparison site, the average price of a gluten-free loaf rose by nearly 6% between May 2025 and today, reaching £3.12. Gluten-free flour increased by more than 10% to £3.80. Peters noted that gluten-free products are often smaller as well as more expensive, meaning consumers pay significantly more for less food.
Nicole Marvin, a reader from Dudley, said her local Aldi removed its free-from section, leaving her without access to affordable gluten-free basics. 'I’m finding it difficult because I can no longer buy gluten-free flour from Aldi to make my own bread, which saved me money,' she said. Research by Coeliac UK found that a weekly gluten-free shop can cost up to 35% more than a standard shop, and eight in 10 people struggle to afford gluten-free staples.
Peters fears that gluten-free food is 'becoming a luxury rather than an essential medical diet for managing a lifelong autoimmune disease'. She added that families with multiple coeliac members face rapidly escalating costs. The charity Coeliac UK is also concerned that the withdrawal of adult prescriptions for gluten-free bread and flour in England is putting additional strain on household budgets.
