Almost half of Canadian households that have children with celiac disease are struggling to afford gluten-free foods, according to a new study led by the University of Alberta.
In a cross-Canada online survey of more than 650 parents whose children are on a gluten-free diet, 47 per cent reported experiencing food insecurity the inability to access it affordably and of those households, more than 30 per cent are grappling with low to very low levels of accessibility.
"Our findings are alarming, because even households in the $100,000 range experience some food insecurity, so imagine how hard it is for families with lower incomes," says Diana Mager, a registered dietitian and professor in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.
"They're faced with decisions about paying rent versus feeding their child a healthy diet," says Mager, who is also a member of the Women's and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI).
