Spanish food shoppers with celiac disease fork out more than €80 extra a month

CELIAC sufferers in Spain pay an average €1,000 a year more on food shopping as they are forced to opt for gluten-free products.

This is according to Spain’s Federation of Celiac Association (FACE), which claims despite a slight drop in the price of celiac-safe products, people with the disease are still shelling out as much €19.49 a week more for the alternatives.

A study has found that bread costs eight per cent more, and sufferers pay almost a euro extra for a 100g packet of chocolate biscuits.

FACE is calling on the Spanish Government to offer a subsidy to people with the long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the small intestine.

This is a move other EU countries are considering, including Italy and France.