Gluten-free foods contain more fat, salt, and sugar than their gluten-containing equivalents, and are more than twice as expensive, a study has found. Researchers at the University of Hertfordshire said that gluten-free (GF) products offer no nutritional advantage over regular foods and were not a healthier alternative, which may surprise many consumers. Gluten-free foods were 159% more expensive than their regular counterparts, they found. After comparing more than 1,700 food products from Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Ocado, they found that, with the exception of crackers, gluten-free foods contained more fat, salt, and sugar and also had lower fibre and protein content than their equivalents. That gluten-free foods were more expensive could stop with coeliac disease buying them, compromising their health.

Source: Irish Examiner January 19, 2018 00:15 UTC