Schär launches site and app for gluten-free products

App with info and tips

Thanks to GPS tracking and a road map, the consumer can use the app to find nearby addresses of gluten-free restaurants or stores. The app also gives travel tips and additional information about the quality of the locations. Consumers can also add reviews and notes.

About 1 to 5 % of the world’s population have an intolerance to gluten, a protein found in a wide range of crops, like wheat, rye, barley, spelled wheat and oats. People with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or wheat allergies can become seriously ill if their food is not entirely gluten-free.

About 1 % of people in the Netherlands has celiac disease, the strongest form of gluten intolerance. Only 35,000 people have been diagnosed with the illness, but experts believe another 125,000 people have the disease without ever realizing it. A small amount of gluten can cause a chronic inflammation of the smaller intestine with sometimes serious symptoms. No medicine exists for celiac disease and the only way to treat it is to follow a life-long gluten-free diet.

Gluten sensitivity leads to stomach ache, nausea, diarrhea, migraines and a bloated feeling. This particular, new type of gluten intolerance is still relatively unknown as no clear signs of intestine damage or defense substances can be found in the blood. Nevertheless, gluten cause health issues for these people. It is not known how many people have gluten sensitivity.