LB058 - NUTRITIONAL QUALITY AND AFFORDABILITY OF GLUTEN-FREE BASIC CEREAL PRODUCTS IN COELIAC DISEASE: A MARKET ANALYSIS FROM TÜRKIYE

LB058

NUTRITIONAL QUALITY AND AFFORDABILITY OF GLUTEN-FREE BASIC CEREAL PRODUCTS IN COELIAC DISEASE: A MARKET ANALYSIS FROM TÜRKIYE

Z. Saraç^1,*, E. Özkul Erdoğan¹

¹Nutrition and Dietetics, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, Türkiye

Rationale: Patients with coeliac disease require lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD), making the nutritional quality and affordability of gluten-free (GF) foods clinically important. GF cereal products may differ from gluten-containing (GC) counterparts in nutrient composition and cost, potentially affecting dietary adequacy and sustained adherence.

Methods: In this cross-sectional market analysis, 47 GF and 33 GC basic cereal products available in Türkiye were evaluated using label information. Products included commonly consumed foods such as bread, pasta, flour, breakfast cereals, and biscuits. Data on energy, macronutrients, fibre, salt, and price per 100 g were collected. Group comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. An affordability scenario based on six daily bread servings was assessed relative to the national minimum wage.

Results: Median price per 100 g was significantly higher in GF than GC products [49.99 TL (1.08 USD) vs 19.05 TL (0.41 USD), p<0.001]. Median protein content was significantly lower in GF products (4.2 vs 8.7 g/100 g, p<0.001), while fibre (1.35 vs 2.80 g/100 g, p=0.142) and saturated fat (0.4 vs 1.3 g/100 g, p=0.051) also tended to be lower. In the bread affordability scenario, monthly bread expenditure represented 5.54% of the minimum wage for GF products and 1.76% for GC products. (Exchange Rate of 29/05/2026, 1 USD = 45,90 TL)

Conclusion: In Türkiye, GF basic cereal products were substantially more expensive than GC counterparts and showed less favourable nutritional characteristics, particularly lower protein content. For patients with coeliac disease, adherence to a GFD may therefore involve both nutritional disadvantage and increased financial burden.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared