By Marcus Uhe
Brian’s Gourmet Meats in Lyndhurst are marking Coeliac Awareness Week with their fourth annual fundraising barbecue on Saturday 19 March.
Patrons will be able to snack on a sausage in gluten free bread and purchase any of the butcher’s products including marinades, sauces, schnitzels, pre-cooked meals, pastries and more, which are all free from gluten, with proceeds going towards funding medical research.
Angela Rollason said that their store made the switch to exclusively stocking gluten free products following a conversation with a staff member.
“Her daughter is coeliac and she was so sick of cooking separate meals,” Ms Rollason said. “She asked us, ‘What would you think about going gluten free?’”
“We started looking into all the marinades and flavours and two years after first opening we went gluten free.”
By stocking products entirely free from gluten, the store eliminates any risk of cross-contamination from products such as breadcrumbs, sauces and stocks.
The barbecue will also act as an educational opportunity to learn about gluten intolerance and their products available at Brian’s.
Gluten refers to proteins found in wheat, barley and rye products. Sufferers of Coeliac’s disease experience damage to the small intestine upon ingestion of gluten.
Gluten can be found in many products unexpectedly as it is often used as a binding agent to hold products such as confectionary in-shape, or in flavoured seasonings, such as chicken salt.
Anticipating speculation at the decision to alter their product, the shop made the decision in secret, before making a formal announcement.
“Once we said we were going gluten free a few people said they were unsure.
“If I didn’t tell you it was gluten free, you wouldn’t know.
“No one’s ever really commented that it tastes different.”
Coeliac disease is a common form of iron deficiency estimated to affect one in 20 cases of low iron in men and women , with one in 70 Australian estimated to suffer the disease, according to Coeliac Australia.
Coeliac awareness week is encouraging people with iron deficiency or related symptoms, such as lethargy, poor concentration and migraines, to consider whether they have the disease.
The barbecue will be held outside the butcher shop at the Marriott Waters Shopping Centre at the corner of Marriott boulevard and Thompsons Road in Lyndhurst.
To learn more about the products on offer at Brian’s head to briansgourmetmeats.com.au/
To undertake an online self-assessment to determine whether you are at risk of suffering the disease, head to coeliac.org.au/s/coeliac-disease/self-assessment
