Nigerian Guinness

 

Someone just complained on Radio 5 that his Guinness Export bought from Tesco was brewed in Nigeria.

Is that the gluten-free stuff made from sorghum?

The Pricing of Gluten Free Foods

 

We rarely buy any special gluten-free foods except for Dr. Schar's pasta. Otherwise, we just use fresh meat, fruit and vegetables and standard sauces and other goods that are marked gluten-free.

Note that I'm almost on a no-bread diet, as bought gluten-free bread is generally rubbish. The only one I ever eat is Tesco's gluten-free pitta bread, which is excellent with a decent Italian salami or prosciutto. Don't ever eat more than two slices as it sits in your stomach rather heavily.

I think that if you want to live just like you used to, you will get ripped off, but adjust your diet and you can live very well. And very reasonably.

The Future of Coeliac-UK

 

There has been talk on the UK about funding problems with the Coeliac UK charity. I don't know if they are true, but it must be a drain as more and more people are diagnosed with the disease.

I for one would not miss the Coeliac UK charity.

I go my own way as I do in many things, which I find out is often best. Certainly for me. I'm afraid that charities like Coeliac UK are being usurped by the Internet, which gives you the information you want at your fingertips.

The lot of coeliacs will not be improved until the NHS realises that the one in hundred of the population who have coeliac disease are a severe economic drain. Not because of the disease they have, but because of all the drugs and treatments that are given to coeliacs because of misdiagnosis.

We live in a time of massive change in the way we handle and access information. Most of it will be free. Charities that go closed and charge their members for their services will cease to exist.

It's a very hard world out there.

The Usual Suspects

 

Am I being the typical middle-class idiot?

After all I am featuring Waitrose, Marks and Spencer and Carluccios. But then they are the sort of companies that provide the wholesome gluten-free food that I need.

Sainsburys has not really featured, but this is mainly because we are rather over Tesco'd and I don't visit the nearest Sainsburys at Haverhill very often. They do make a rather nice gluten free sponge pudding though!

You will notice that Asda don't get a mention. Why should I shop at a company that is owned by WalMart from the land of the death penalty, global warming, Guantanamo, unwise excursions into Iraq and unfair trade practices?

Packed Lunches

 

I've started doing a lot of work in Nottingham and now pack my own lunch before I go, as where I work there is a fair way from anything suitable. I do find the North much more difficult than the south as in London, there are many places where I can get a good gluten free lunch. Carluccios, Pizza Express and several other cafes come to mind.

The problem seems to be up North, that what they say is gluten free isn't. Often it's something like chips that have been fried in the same oil as battered fish.