Promoting awareness about Coeliac disease with advice on what and where to eat.
The Coeliac Society chose to celebrate European Coeliac Awareness Day at Beshoffs chipper in Dublin. At Beshoffs they have been serving gluten-free fish and chips for the past year the first chipper in the country to do so.
The local chipper is usually out of bounds for Coeliacs because of the flour used in the batter.
For some with Coeliac disease this is the first time to treat themselves to fish and chips in years.
More restaurants are now serving gluten-free options on their menus making eating out easier for coeliacs. The Coeliac Society says awareness of the disease is increasing. Emma Clarke Conway, Coeliac Society of Ireland, explains that around one per cent of the Irish population have the condition. There are also many people who have symptoms but are not diagnosed. Symptoms include bloating, anaemia, chronic fatigue, weight loss, diarrhoea or constipation.
Very often people don't realise for some time that they have this condition.
European Coeliac Awareness Day hopes to raise awareness about the disease so that more people will get a diagnosis and learn to manage it. The Coeliac Society provides information about food that can be safely eaten by coeliacs as well as what food to avoid.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 16 May 2009. The reporter is Bethan Kilfoil.
