Canadians with celiac disease are looking for a little financial relief from the government, in the form of an e-petition.
I don’t usually sign petitions, as a member of the press. But since I was diagnosed with celiac disease more than 20 years ago, I have spent likely a few thousand dollars more for my groceries than I would have if my immune system could just act normal.
Instead, when I want to eat a single cookie from a bakery the average cost is just under $5. A box of spaghetti (which is always significantly smaller than a standard box) is sitting at the same price, and a loaf of bread is running about $10, if it’s on sale. I’ve almost been priced right out of my favourite bag of corn flakes, which is now edging near $15.
A lot of the best, healthiest options are not even available in our grocery stores, and I resort to shopping on Amazon and driving to other cities (even Bellingham) to purchase gluten-free options.
Ordering a burger comes with a $5 surcharge — and heaping gobs of faith in the kitchen’s ability to understand what it means to be celiac.
Most restaurants don’t really inspire the level of confidence I require to settle in enough to enjoy my meal, and oftentimes, it feels like a child’s game of telephone, sending questions back to the kitchen staff via the server, and back again to me, while the rest of the table patiently waits for me to either choose a salad or die of starvation.
It’s just really hard to find something to eat, and when that something has been found, it’s a matter of choking on the cost.
Thankfully, I’ve always been able to afford my specialized diet. But one in six Canadians with celiac disease are experiencing food insecurity. Celiac Canada recently quoted a study that found nearly 50 per cent of households with a child who has celiac disease are food insecure.
That’s why they’re supporting the House of Commons petition for a $1,000 tax credit to offset the high costs of gluten-free food, and frankly, I do, too.
This isn’t a fad for us. This isn’t a trend.
Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disorder in which the ingestion of gluten damages the small intestine and negatively impacts many other organ systems in the body. One per cent of Canadians are diagnosed with it.
The more gluten someone with celiac ingests, either accidentally or because that’s all that’s available, the more inflammation they experience. And that inflammation is a serious concern that can lead to even more medical issues.
Gluten-free food can cost anywhere from 15-500 per cent more than their gluten-containing counterparts including staples like cereal, breads, pastas, and baked goods. I like to explain to people that I can eat only about 20 per cent of the product in any given grocery store. It used to be more like five per cent.
Things are improving for us those of us with celiac. The food is more palatable than 20 years ago. The awareness is at an all-time high.
A tax credit, similar to other countries, would be the cherry on top of that gluten-free pie.
The petition is open for signatures until December 6, 2025 and can be found online at ourcommons.ca/petitions.
-Jessica Peters is an editor with Black Press Media