Table 2

Comparison of cost between gluten-free (GF) and gluten-containing (GC) foods

Productn*Gluten-free cost
(pence/100 g)
Gluten-containing cost (pence/100 g)P values% Difference
2017
% Difference 201112
All bread loaves3764 (55–68)13 (10–23)<0.001400 (187–490)360
White loaf2061 (55–67)12 (9–29)<0.001467 (218–500)
Brown loaf1766 (55–72)17 (11–23)<0.001324 (187–404)
All bread rolls3790 (70–96)18 (13–27)<0.001379 (281–491)155
White bread rolls2090 (67–92)18 (13–27)<0.001384 (236–403)
Brown bread rolls1796 (78–103)18 (12–27)<0.001386 (281–536)
Cereals—flaked1585 (67–92)44 (33–44)<0.001109 (52–149)96§
Cereal bars20176 (153–193)132 (129–140)0.00130 (6–46)
Pasta2041 (34–59)28.5 (21–66)0.118 (−12 to 70)175
Plain flour2018 (17–35)9.5 (5–43)0.00685 (−5 to 269)184
Crackers/crispbreads20160 (114–243)85 (69–109)<0.001122 (79–124)220
Sweet biscuits15130 (103–139)63 (62–66)<0.001107 (77–130)518
Whole sponge cake1583 (80–85)60 (48–67)<0.00135 (24–46)78
  • *Number of stores that stocked a GF and GC version of the food. Median (IQR) costs are presented for each food category from premium and regular supermarkets combined. 

  • †Cost for each food category, for each individual supermarket, was calculated as a mean value between the cheapest and most expensive item; the median (IQR) was then calculated for all premium and regular supermarkets combined. 

  • ‡% Difference between cost of GF and GC food categories. 

  • §Includes all GF breakfast cereals. 2011 data presented as mean values.