‘Without Gluten and Without Pasta’ that is the motto of the demonstration in which they have reached around a gluten-free diet.
The protesters have proclaimed that they “pay four times more” when making the purchase and according to data from the price report made in 2022 by the Association, the gluten-free diet supposes an additional cost of 900 euros per year per patient.
“In other European countries such as Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom or Denmark, they have been giving financial aid for years to subsidize part of the treatment of celiac disease,” explained the director of the Association for Celiacs and Gluten Sensitives, Roberto Espina.
The march, which has concluded in front of the Ministry of Economy, has also had the participation of representatives of the Association of Celiacs of Catalonia and FACE. In it, chants such as “Hands up, this is a robbery” or “I am celiac, not a millionaire” have been heard.
The three organizations have drawn up a manifesto set in which they also bring together others, such as the obligation to offer gluten-free menus in all schools; the expansion of the offer of gluten-free menus in collective canteens; favoring the diagnosis and investigation of the disease; or the introduction of the figure of the nutritionist in the National Health System.
According to his figures, there are around 600,000 celiacs in Spain and a similar number of people with gluten sensitivity, so more than a million people are forced to buy products without these components.
Change.org to gain support and greater visibility of these much-needed uses for the celiac and gluten-sensitive community.