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Celiac patients hope someone will hear their cries

Celiacs protest against high costs of gluten-free diet

With price of gluten-free bread at 351% more than regular bread, gluten-free flour 56% more expensive, Israelis living with celiac disease launch Facebook campaign to battle high prices.

Following the "Cottage Cheese Protest" of 2011 and the more recent public outcry regarding the price of Milky (an Israeli pudding), Israelis living with Celiac disease have now launched their own protest, urging to lower the prices of gluten-free products. 

 

 

Individuals suffering from gluten intolerance are forced to spend a far larger percentage of their earnings on basic foods such as bread or pasta.

 

Members of the celiac community have had enough, and are taking to Facebook to have their say, posting photos of themselves holding signs that describe the plight they suffer due to the high living prices in Israel, which they say affects them more than the rest of the Israeli population.

 

Thousands of shekels more for food products

Sharon Brish from Kiryat Ata has three family members who are diagnosed with celiac disease: her husband Benny (43), her 14-year-old daughter Ofir, and her six-year-old son Itai. "We spend a lot of money," she said. "We try to buy a bit of everything so that they don't feel that they're lacking anything, but even when I want to buy flour in order to cook everything by myself, the price is still very high."

 

Ofir and Itai Brish hold up sign listing prices of gluten-free foods compared to those of regular foods
Ofir and Itai Brish hold up sign listing prices of gluten-free foods compared to those of regular foods

 

"It's not just the flour and bread, but also cereal and nutrition bars. In addition to regular shopping, we spend NIS 1,000 more on gluten free products. During Passover, we do major shopping so that it will last until the end of the year and freeze food. We purchased another freezer just for that, so we can eat waffles and other products. Until now, I thought that there was no chance the prices would come down, but I hope someone will hear our cries this time."

 

There are currently some 30,000 celiac patients in Israel, including 15,000 children; celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine. The disease is caused by a reaction gluten protein) found in various types of grain.

 

In 2010, the Knesset Research and Information Center published a report regarding the price of gluten-free products. According to the report, other countries tackle the problem of the high prices by issuing tax deductions to individuals suffering from the disease, subsidizing products, providing gluten-free products for patients on prescription, and distributing food vouchers.

 

The examples in the study illustrate the startling size of the price gap: gluten-free white bread is 351 percent more expensive than regular bread, a large bag of white gluten-free flour is 566 percent more expensive, a bottle of beer is 500 percent more expensive and challah bread is 256 percent more expensive. According to estimates, issuing tax refunds or providing benefits to families that have members with celiac disease would cost the country NIS 104-180 million.

 

Protest outside Finance Ministry

One of the leaders of the struggle is Dan Solomon, from Moshav Givat Yeshayahu, who decided to protest outside the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem last week due to the high prices of gluten-free foods.

 

Daniel, his nine-year-old daughter, was diagnosed with celiac disease three years ago, and since then the average price of the family's shopping has greatly increased.

 

"Rice pasta costs about NIS 20, a medium-sized loaf of bread costs about NIS 25, and gluten-free flour costs between NIS 40-60 a kilo," Solomon complained. "If the average price of a person's shopping basket is about NIS 700, we pay four times more.

 

During the protest, Solomon said, Finance Minister Yair Lapid stopped and spoke with him, promising to try to help. Solomon has since then created a Facebook page for celiac patients and parents of patients who are tired of paying the high prices for the gluten-free foods.

 

Lapid with Solomon family at protest
Lapid with Solomon family at protest

 

"Some countries in the world subsidize gluten-free foods for patients with celiac disease," he said. "The solution is legislation, but they have been talking about it for years and nothing is happening."

 

'The aim is to raise awareness'

Roni Gillon (29) from Tel Aviv, who also has celiac and was diagnosed when she was eleven, has recently joined in the fight for lower prices. As a child, she was not aware of the high prices of gluten-free foods, but once she began supporting herself, she was surprised at the sky-high grocery bill.

 

"Whenever I go shopping and see that half a pound of flour costs NIS 30, I become furious," she said. "I wrote about it on Facebook and saw that there are many others who are also frustrated."

 

"We compared prices in branches of the same supermarket chain, with the same products, and the gluten-free products cost NIS 132.94 compared to NIS 31.95 for regular products. Our goal is to try to lower the prices, as well as raise awareness of celiac disease in our society."

 

A statement issued by the Health Ministry stated that "Health Minister Yael German decided to establish an inter-ministerial committee headed by Professor Itamar Grotto, in order to designate targeted assistance for celiac patients. The recommendations will be submitted soon."

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.13.14, 15:00
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