BRITS’ IGNORANCE OVER INTOLERANCES REVEALED
- Gut horror; 3 in 10 Brits believe gluten is a carbohydrate found in potatoes, pasta and pizza
- More than one in ten Brits have switched to a gluten-free diet
- 91% say they know what coeliac is, yet two thirds of those don’t know the symptoms
- 9%, of young adults, think Coeliac is a famous Italian restaurant
- 1 in 20 think IBS is a Silicone Valley computer company
LONDON, 11 MAY
2015: New research out today, and in time for Coeliac Awareness Week, has
revealed we’re still a nation that’s ignorant about intolerances despite over 1
in 5 of the UK thought to have a food allergy or intolerance.
The research,
by Udi’s Gluten Free, has revealed that more than one in ten (11%) have now
switched to a gluten-free diet. Indeed 29% of those aged 18-24 have cut gluten
out of their diet.
Despite this,
ignorance of coeliac disease is still widespread. Just 14% of young adults
recognise the symptoms of gluten intolerance; with 9% thinking ‘coeliac’ is a
famous Italian restaurant! However, as a nation, 91% claim to know what coeliac
disease is, but of those, a muddled 2/3rds don’t know what the symptoms are!
Confusion
continues with more than 3 in 10 Brits believing that gluten is a type of
carbohydrate found in potatoes, breads and pasta. Meanwhile, 1 in 10 do not
realise pasta is not suitable for those with coeliac disease and the same have
no idea beer can contain gluten.
Holly Wales,
product development director at Udi’s Gluten Free comments; “Allergies and
intolerances are on the rise and as a nation it seems we need to be more aware
of such things.
“Our research
also identified that just under a half (41%) of the UK feel sorry for those
living a gluten-free diet. People who are coeliac or are leading a gluten-free
life don’t want to be felt sorry for; they want to feel normal and eat
free-from foods where they don’t have to compromise on taste.”
The study also
revealed that other conditions, which baffle us, include irritable bowel
syndrome, with 1 in 20 people thinking that IBS is a Silicone Valley computer
company.
On average 50%
of the UK population have suffered at least one of the main symptoms of coeliac
disease, but 61% of those mistook the symptoms for IBS. 1 in 10 of us
self-diagnose our symptoms, which can lead to serious problems.
Even so, only 2
in 10 sought help from their GP and the same amount didn’t think their symptoms
were important enough to waste their GPs time.
Brits continue
to be confused over a number of conditions/illnesses and their symptoms with
many (66%) confusing malaria with the flu and just 1 in 10 people able to
recognise the true illness.
The symptoms of
breast cancer were the most recognised (91%), with coeliac disease and malaria
being the least recognized from a list of symptoms.
1. Breast Cancer (91%)
2. Dementia (82%)
3. Scarlet Fever (80%)
4. Influencer (78%)
5. Atopic Dermatitis (74%)
6. IBS (72%)
7. Diabetes (63%)
8. Dyspraxia (57%)
9. Coeliac Disease (31%)
10. Malaria (11%)
The 11th to
17th May, marks Coeliac Awareness Week by Coeliac UK.
- ends-
For more
information, please visit: www.udisglutenfree.co.uk
Comments
Post a Comment