The majority of people who eat gluten-free do so because of gluten intolerance, also known as Celiac disease. But in reality, the group of people who do not eat gluten is much larger. There may also be other reasons why someone follows a gluten-free diet. We will explain.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system sees gluten as a danger and produces antibodies that attack your own intestinal cells (Maag Lever Darm Stichting, n.d.). Someone who has Celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten and therefore develops inflammation in the intestinal mucosa (Maag Lever Darm Stichting, n.d.). Celiac disease is the most common food intolerance in the West (Maag Lever Darm Stichting, n.d.). It is estimated that 1 in 100 people in the Netherlands has been diagnosed with Celiac disease. That amounts to approximately 90,000 to 180,000 people in the Netherlands (Glutenvrij, n.d.). However, there are still many people who have celiac disease but are not aware of it. The actual number is therefore much higher, given that one in five people are aware of it (Gluten-free, n.d.).
Group size: 90,000 to 180,000 people
Lyme disease is caused by an infection that one gets after a tick bite. The website of the Lyme Association (n.d.) says the following about this:
"Lyme disease or Lyme borreliosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Borrelia is a spirochete, comparable to Treponema pallidum, the cause of syphilis. The disease is usually contracted by a tick bite and often, but not always, starts with a red rash around the bite and flu-like symptoms. Transmission of the disease from mother to child has also been described during pregnancy."
In the Netherlands, there are approximately 27,000 people with Lyme disease each year (RIVM, 2024).
Group size: 27,000 people annually
Eosinophilic esophagitis, abbreviated EoE) is a chronic inflammation of the esophagus (Allergy & Nutrition, 2024). Symptoms include problems with swallowing, food impatience (food that does not go down), heartburn and pain behind the breastbone (Allergy & Nutrition, 2024). It appears that EoE is caused by certain (food) allergens that trigger inflammation (Allergy & Nutrition, 2024). That is why it is often chosen to start with an elimination diet. This can include:
VA Foods products are therefore suitable for people with EoE, as all of the above allergens are excluded in our products.
Group size: not yet known
Research also shows that people who have undergone chemotherapy, for example, may also benefit from the gluten-free diet. However, not much is known about this, but here and there we hear from people that a gluten-free diet can be beneficial during or after chemotherapy.
Group size: not known
Phenylketonuria is an incurable metabolic disorder in which the liver does not function or does not function sufficiently in one component of the proteins (amino acid Phenylalanine) (PKU association, n.d.). Because the amino acid accumulates in the blood, it hinders the growth and development of the brain (PKU association, n.d.). If you have PKU, it is essential to consume as little protein as possible. We have learned from the Dutch PKU association that our croquettes are therefore suitable for the diet they follow. They are also served during the annual PKU day.
Size of the group: much is still unclear, every year about 1 in 18,000 children are diagnosed.
Finally, there are also people who eat gluten-free but do not have an officially diagnosed disease. For example, they may experience complaints with certain gluten-containing products, and therefore avoid them or choose a gluten-free variant.
Size of the group: unclear
In conclusion, we can say that the group that eats gluten-free or allergen-free is much larger than just people with celiac disease. This fact is also interesting for the catering industry; so there may be a larger group that eats gluten and allergen-free than catering entrepreneurs might initially think. And this group is only getting bigger. Therefore, provide multiple options, both gluten-free and allergen-free.
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