Gluten Intolerance Group and GIG Cares focus on food insecurity during Celiac Awareness Month
The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), one of the largest nonprofit gluten-free advocacy organizations, continues to address the importance of May’s Celiac Awareness Month by highlighting food insecurity in the gluten-free community. Working to end this problem, GIG is supporting the work of GIG Cares, a separate nonprofit organization whose mission is to fight food insecurity while promoting gluten-free education and advocacy. GIG Cares’ food assistance program, Cutting Costs, provides monthly care packages filled with Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO)-certified gluten-free products to individuals and families in need. GFCO certifies more than 60,000 gluten-free products worldwide.
According to GIG Cares, 75% of those in the gluten-free community who require food aid cannot afford their diet because the cost of gluten-free food is 183% more expensive than gluten-containing foods. In the U.S., 3 million people are living with celiac disease and gluten intolerance and approximately 6% of the population has non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), making access to gluten-free food an important concern.