I get asked a lot if I bake Gluten Free . Yes, I can ‘bake’ gluten free BUT some questions need to be asked first!

So, what is ‘Gluten Free’?

In very simple terms, it’s foods that are free from gluten.

What is an allergy/intolerance to that of a

lifestyle choice?

Both entirely different to each other!! Having an allergy or intolerance of a food means you could end up being very ill, even in hospital if you consume that particular food. Some people may even die if they eat that particular food! To date, there are 14 foodstuffs listed by the FSA that must be listed by anyone that prepares food, to say whether they are present in that food or not. Gluten is one of those foods. You may have an allergy or intolerance to another food that is not listed (think garlic, strawberries, kiwi etc), so only YOU the consumer knows the severity of your allergy or intolerance. It is up to YOU to ask the questions before you purchase/consume the food! Following a gluten free diet because of a ‘lifestyle choice’ you made, either to lose weight, feel healthier and generally can eat the food on a normal day without feeling any side effects (you just choose not to), is an entirely different thing! It probably means you don’t have an allergy or intolerance to that food. Therefore, you are not at any health risk should you eat that food – either deliberately or accidently! For example: I have an intolerance to garlic. Is it an allergy – I don’t know yet. It is not one of the 14 foods listed by the FSA to be mentioned. If I eat it, I will feel ill for the next few days until it is out of my system and on occasion, I have had to use my inhaler and take an anti-histamine because I’ve felt really bad having consumed it. I now have to check all packaging before I buy food and also have to ask/let restaurants know before I order. This severely limits what I can and can’t eat these days (and also is very frustrating because I now have to make a lot more food myself rather than buy it ready-made!). Is this a lifestyle choice – No! It makes me ill so I avoid it! What IS a lifestyle choice is something like Cauliflower because I hate it, so wouldn’t touch it! Does it make me ill, no! I just feel better for not eating it!! We all have our reasons! ;)

What does this mean for my wedding cakes?

All of my cakes are baked using flour that contains gluten. As a rule, I generally do not bake a gluten free cake as I do not want to put either myself or you in harm’s way should you eat my cakes that contain gluten. However, I can still bake using GF ingredients. They would be prepared in my kitchen that handles ALL allergens, including normal flour. They would be prepared in the same tins and using the same equipment as a normal cake. They would be baked and prepared after a deep clean and on a separate day to a normal cake. Sometimes, even with all the prep and being careful still isn’t enough for some folks allergies and that’s where the issues lies. If you have chosen a lifestyle choice of not consuming gluten, then these cakes would probably be perfectly fine for you. If you have an allergy or intolerance to GF, or are Coeliac, then ultimately you are the one that needs to make the decision if you would be ok. At the end of the day ONLY YOU know the severity or your allergy or intolerance and ultimately you are the one making the decision to consume the food or not. I have baked for coeliacs in the past and they too have been perfectly fine. BUT it is up to YOU to make that decision. Everyone’s allergy/intolerance is different.

How serious is this?

Very! MY EHO has informed me that anyone that prepares normal food containing gluten cannot state that something is GF! The particles floating in the air could be enough to make someone with a severe allergy ill. If your baker is baking a normal cake in the same kitchen, as a GF cake they cannot state that it is entirely GF (regardless if they use separate tools and equipment (including fridges/ovens)). It simply isn’t enough to just wipe down the surfaces or bake on a separate day if you are still using the same tools and equipment and the flour is stored in the same cupboard and really your baker should warn you about this – for your sake and theirs! If they are not, then I would absolutely ask the right questions - Do you bake other cakes/foods using gluten in the same kitchen? - How are your gluten free foods stored/prepared (same area as each other?) - Are you using the same tools and equipment that you would use for normal foods? I have told many brides before, if they/their guest is coeliac, then they are best of buying a separate cake just for the GF person from a specialised baker. A specialised baker is normally one that does not handle gluten products on their premises at all! Don’t get me wrong, there are bakers out there that have this allergy themselves and won’t have it in their house/kitchen/shop, so they could absolutely state that they are genuinely GF! I have previously worked in two big food production companies and the measures that they go to, to keep the environment controlled is astounding! Separate labs/kitchens, separate tools and equipment, separate aprons/lab coats/chefs’ jackets that are not even allowed out of that production environment. How any normal, at home kitchen or baker could meet that same standard I don’t know??!

I’ve found a baker that bakes Gluten Free

without any of this fuss!!

That’s great if you have!! However, I have said it (and witnessed it) plenty of times before, there are so many bakers out there that will tell you what you want to hear just get the sale! When it comes to allergies and intolerance, this is a different topic and a lot more serious! If they bake gluten free then they will have no problem answering the questions mentioned previously for you. Make your own conclusions. If they make false claims and you get sick, they are responsible. If they warn you beforehand and are open and honest about it and you get sick, then you are responsible! Natasha’s Law came into effect on the 1st October 2021. You can read more about it here https://www.narf.org.uk/

In conclusion……

Stress to your baker if you are coeliac/have an allergy or intolerance to gluten or whether it is just a lifestyle choice! Know the difference for a fuss free wedding!