Coeliac NZ Urges Restaurants To Raise The Gluten-Free Standard Amid Growing Need
More than 100,000 Kiwis are estimated to be living with coeliac disease, with thousands more likely undiagnosed due to the wide-ranging and often silent symptoms. The only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet, making access to safe dining options essential. Others avoid gluten for lifestyle reasons, further driving demand for trustworthy food choices.
'For people with coeliac disease, dining out isn't just about enjoying a meal - it's navigating a minefield of hidden ingredients, cross-contamination risks, and the fear of being misunderstood or dismissed,' says Coeliac NZ general manager Wendy Bremner. 'A single misstep in the kitchen can result in hours or days of illness, pain and recovery.'
Despite this growing need, Coeliac NZ says many restaurants still lack awareness of proper gluten-free food safety practices. Even trace amounts of gluten through cross-contamination can cause serious illness for coeliac customers, making safe practices not just a courtesy, but a necessity.
'CNZ conducted a member survey recently and overwhelmingly safe eating out options remain the biggest challenge. For many, the risk is just too high – so they choose not to dine out at all. That's a missed opportunity for restaurants,' Bremner says.
'Investing in training isn't just about earning trust, it's about upskilling staff in allergen management and ensuring venues can confidently serve a growing market. Safe dining builds loyalty, enhances reputation and ultimately supports business success.'
Marisa Bidois, CEO of the Restaurant Association of NZ adds: 'At a time when many hospitality businesses are doing it tough, investing in gluten-free food safety training and improving gluten-free offerings is a smart way to attract new customers and show existing ones they're valued. It's not only the right thing to do, it makes good business sense.'
The call to better cater for to gluten-free customers – particularly those with coeliac disease - comes during Coeliac Awareness Week (9-15 June) under the theme 'Coeliac Disease is Different for Every Body.'
Coeliac NZ says more needs to be done to recognise the wide variety of symptoms which are often atypical or silent. These can include neurological issues, skin conditions and fertility problems. Increased awareness, improved screening and redefining diagnostic criteria are vital to earlier intervention and better health outcomes.
'Coeliac Disease is different for every body,' Bremner adds. 'The more people understand the diverse symptoms, the better equipped we are to support those affected both in their everyday lives and for their long-term health.'
For more information about Coeliac Awareness Week 2025, visit www.coeliac.org.nz
About Coeliac Disease
Coeliac disease triggers an autoimmune response, damaging the small intestine and impairing nutrient absorption. While classic symptoms like diarrhoea and cramping are well known, many people remain undiagnosed due to mild or atypical symptoms. Yet if left untreated, coeliac disease can lead to serious health issues, such as osteoporosis, fertility issues, and nervous system disorders. Greater awareness leads to earlier diagnosis and better health outcomes.
For more information on Coeliac Disease and Gluten-Free Food Safety Training, visit coeliac.org.nz.
Coeliac Awareness Week 2025 is proudly supported by Allergywise, Bakels, Bin Inn, Eat Choice, FreshLife, Gluten Free Shop, Griffin's, Lee Kum Kee, My Food Bag, Ocho, Tip Top, Synergy Health and Waitoa.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
4 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Helius and Elysian to continue merger after Cannabis Clinic withdrawal
'I think these things happen when you're looking at mergers and going through that process, you get to learn more about how the entire structure would work, about each other's cultures and how we approach things, we understand more about each other's businesses as well,' Alzaher said. 'That's why we mutually agreed and reached the conclusion that it would be better for us to work independently.' Dr Waseem Alzaher, CEO and co-founder of the Cannabis Clinic, says it will be better for the businesses to work independently towards their shared goal. Alzaher said the proposal had been spoken about between the parties for about two months before the announcement to the public. After a further three weeks deep-diving on the proposal and deciding on how it would work, the decision was made for it not to proceed. Alzaher said the decision to communicate proactively about the proposal was because of Helius Therapeutics' shareholders and its responsibility to keep them involved, and he said he would do the process the same if given another opportunity. 'We're still open to partnerships, to collaboration, to investment, to coming together, so that one plus one equals 10. 'The bigger picture for us is revolutionising healthcare, how healthcare is delivered, the systems, the expectations, how it's centred around people. 'That's a big mission. Our big area audacious goal is to have a million long-term clients with us, and that's not going to happen overnight.' As for what didn't work between Cannabis Clinic and Helius Therapeutics, Alzaher said that their business cultures and visions were not necessarily aligned. He viewed Cannabis Clinic as a 'rebel' and a 'misfit' trying to disrupt the system, and said the business' time could be better spent helping more Kiwis instead. Alzaher said he could see the businesses working together in the future, although not in the 'foreseeable future'. 'With Helius they've got products that are New Zealand made and we're still distributing them. We see them as a strategic partner for us moving forward. 'They believe in what we're doing, we believe in what they're doing, and we're still talking to each other and on good terms.' Helius Health chairman Guy Haddleton previously said the industry long needed a reset. Photo / File Merger moves on Despite the mutual decision for Cannabis Clinic to pull out of the proposed merger, Helius Therapeutics and Elsyian Group/CannaPlus have confirmed a two-way merger will now take its place. Helius Therapeutics financial officer Bruce McEwen said the businesses expect to settle in August. 'What happens now – it's full steam ahead with the execution of the new strategy and the merger with CannaPlus," McEwen said. 'Whilst it's now a two not three-way merger and reduces overall scale, it doesn't change the direction or effectiveness of the strategy. It does however make it simpler, enabling us to move faster.' McEwen said Helius Therapeutics shareholders were firmly behind the strategy pivot to vertically integrate and the proposed two-party merger. He said Helius Therapeutics and Cannabis Clinic had a strong mutual respect for each other and continued to be key business partners. 'After careful consideration we mutually agreed not to proceed with the proposed merger between Helius Therapeutics and Cannabis Clinic. 'Whilst there is strong alignment around increasing access to medicinal cannabis and reducing the stigma, we agreed that was better achieved independently.' Helius Health chairman Guy Haddleton was unavailable for comment. Elysian executive chairwoman Eva Piëch said the fundamentals of the transaction remained intact. 'The transition to a two-party merger between Elysian and Helius is a deliberate and strategically focused decision. It enhances clarity, accelerates execution, and strengthens alignment – not only operationally, but philosophically,' Piëch said. 'This structure allows for faster execution, clearer governance and greater strategic clarity. Our infrastructure, patient network and digital platform remain core to the combined strategy.' Piëch said that as discussions matured with Cannabis Clinic, it became clear a three-party integration would introduce operational complexity and dilute strategic focus – without materially strengthening the core proposition. She said the two-party plan would preserve strategic coherence and allow the pair to integrate with speed, purpose and precision. 'This two-way merger creates a clean, tightly aligned platform – one that enables rapid integration, strategic coherence and a stronger foundation for long-term innovation and growth.' Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business, retail and tourism.
Scoop
12 hours ago
- Scoop
Lobbying Docs Show Govt's Weakness
Today's revelations of tobacco industry lobbying lay bare why Labour's Tobacco Transparency Bill is needed to stop governments putting the interests of the industry above people's health. Today's RNZ story shows the wide range of politicians, experts, and officials tobacco lobbyists Philip Morris targeted to influence regulations and garner support for their products, including targeting Winston Peters. 'Christopher Luxon's weak leadership has allowed Winston Peters and the tobacco industry ride roughshod over him by agreeing to a $200 million tax break for the tobacco industry,' Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. 'Philip Morris even wrote legislation for NZ First to loosen the regulations around vaping. They note that Winston Peters is 'industry friendly and highly geared towards commercial interests in the sector. 'I launched a members' bill earlier this year to require disclosure of government contact with the tobacco industry, to make sure industry efforts to undermine New Zealanders' health are reported,' Ayesha Verrall said. The documents revealed today also show how vaping company JUUL targeted New Zealand as a market. 'It's gutting to think we might not have the youth vaping problem we have today if my Bill was in place in 2018 before any of this lobbying took place. 'Around the world, tobacco companies have a long history of influencing and weakening health policies to better suit their bottom line – and here we see evidence of it happening in New Zealand. 'It's time we get rid of the smokescreen and protect Kiwis from big tobacco's lobbying tactics – they have no place in health policy,' Ayesha Verrall said.
NZ Herald
12 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Eat Well for Less: NZ chef Mike Van de Elzen on how to cut grocery costs
And things that will fill you up come in the form of whole foods, says Van de Elzen, which he wishes Kiwis embraced even more of. 'Vegetables are amazing. But also I'm a huge fan of legumes, chickpeas, lentils, white beans, black beans - whether they're in a can or whether they're dried, pulses just fill you up.' If you've got a can of legumes in the pantry, you're already on your way to making a healthy meal, the chef says. Ganesh Raj and Mike van de Elzen. So what else can Kiwis do to help cut down that grocery bill? According to Van de Elzen, it all comes down to shopping a little smarter by focusing less on convenience. 'So you're cooking a little bit more at home, you're doing a little bit more prep at home, you're buying less convenience foods and less processed foods. You're buying more whole foods, vegetables, legumes, even pasta and rice. You are buying the food in a bit more of a basic format rather than it being a complete meal.' But what about those who are time poor and looking for a healthy meal without slogging away in the kitchen? According to Van de Elzen, those who are battling against the clock can beat it by doing a little forward planning in the morning. He often sees people coming home with no plan, a hungry tummy and making decisions in a panic. '[They're thinking], 'I don't have that capacity right now within my brain because I'm tired and I just want to eat something now and kids are screaming at me and I'm gonna order Uber Eats',' he says. 'So what you need to do, as soon as you get up in the morning and you're sitting here having a quick toast before you run off to work, is go, 'I'm gonna pull out some chicken. I'm just gonna put it into the fridge and it's gonna defrost over the day.' The chef says if you've got something defrosting in the fridge while you are at work, you are already halfway there. 'Then when you come home, things like stir-fries are super fast, easy to get lots of vegetables into some egg noodles, rice. It's pretty fast to make a chicken curry with a can of chickpeas. You could probably do that faster than you could order Uber Eats and get it delivered to you.' Chef and presenter Mike Van De Elzen. Photo / Dean Purcell Van de Elzen is passionate about making sure Kiwis are eating wholefood meals, which is why he and Ganesh Raj are back for season 5 of Eat Well for Less New Zealand. With rising pressure on families' wallets, Van de Elzen says this season of the show is the most emotional yet. 'We immerse ourselves in these families for an entire week, and I think the programme itself has never been more relevant than it is right now,' he says. 'The families themselves were incredibly loving. They welcomed us into their homes, but they had massive challenges. They had fussy kids, and they had a lack of cooking abilities. Some of the families had no cooking abilities at all. 'I think if you look at one of these families, that one episode could blow out to a thousand families throughout New Zealand.' New episodes of Eat Well for Less season 5 air every Monday, 7.30pm on TVNZ1 and TVNZ+ Jenni Mortimer is the NZ Herald's chief lifestyle and entertainment reporter. Jenni started at the Herald in 2017 and has previously worked as lifestyle, entertainment and travel editor.
