Post by nia2311 on Mar 19, 2012 10:56:48 GMT
I am cross with BBC breakfast this morning 
They did a feature on the increased sales of Free From foods and made a big point about people self-diagnosing food allergies and intolerances. Basically, it portrayed anyone who uses free from foods as being picky and fussy, rather than focussing on the genuine medical conditions that mean people have to spend 2 or 3 times more on basic products.
I was diagnosed (properly, by a hospital consultant) as lactose intolerant last year. I was ill for almost 4yrs with horrendous gastric symptoms which affected my ability to work and function normally. The lactose intolerance test was not suggested at any point until I finally saw a dietician last year. Bingo - diagnosis achieved, after 3.5yrs of having invasive medical tests at regular intervals and basically being told to shut up and get on with it. I was taking 4-6 capsules of Imodium every single day, just so I could leave the house.
Now, I buy lactofree and other free from foods, which have almost totally removed my symptoms. They are VERY expensive though. It is so frustrating trying to eat out - staff in cafes/restaurants cannot supply ingredient lists, they make a fuss if you ask for certain items (e.g. cheese) to be left off, and are generally very unhelpful. I have even had bad reactions from friends, who cannot understand why I can't have their ordinary milk in my tea, or eat the cheesy bake they made for tea (even though I pre-warned them!)
On the hen do I am going on next month, I am still paying full price for the meals and hotel breakfast, but will have to supply my own milk and butter. The do is in London, so cannot help but stay overnight and attend the meal and it is one of my best friends from school, so don't want to disappoint her by not going. Both venues were very unhelpful and could not supply lactose free alternatives for the meal and B&B packages the chief bridesmaid has pre-booked (despite me advising a lactose free diet from the start...)
And now, BBC Breakfast essentially states most people using Free From foods are self-diagnosing faddy individuals who should just get on with eating normally. Great thanks, that's really going to help people with genuine problems when they are out and about.
Appointments to see dieticians are few and far between - I waited almost a year from the initial referral, so no wonder some people are experimenting with cutting out certain possible triggers. The problem is, if they continue to cut out more and more without using replacements, they finish up with a very narrow diet, and possible malnutrition.
ARGH!!
They did a feature on the increased sales of Free From foods and made a big point about people self-diagnosing food allergies and intolerances. Basically, it portrayed anyone who uses free from foods as being picky and fussy, rather than focussing on the genuine medical conditions that mean people have to spend 2 or 3 times more on basic products.
I was diagnosed (properly, by a hospital consultant) as lactose intolerant last year. I was ill for almost 4yrs with horrendous gastric symptoms which affected my ability to work and function normally. The lactose intolerance test was not suggested at any point until I finally saw a dietician last year. Bingo - diagnosis achieved, after 3.5yrs of having invasive medical tests at regular intervals and basically being told to shut up and get on with it. I was taking 4-6 capsules of Imodium every single day, just so I could leave the house.
Now, I buy lactofree and other free from foods, which have almost totally removed my symptoms. They are VERY expensive though. It is so frustrating trying to eat out - staff in cafes/restaurants cannot supply ingredient lists, they make a fuss if you ask for certain items (e.g. cheese) to be left off, and are generally very unhelpful. I have even had bad reactions from friends, who cannot understand why I can't have their ordinary milk in my tea, or eat the cheesy bake they made for tea (even though I pre-warned them!)
On the hen do I am going on next month, I am still paying full price for the meals and hotel breakfast, but will have to supply my own milk and butter. The do is in London, so cannot help but stay overnight and attend the meal and it is one of my best friends from school, so don't want to disappoint her by not going. Both venues were very unhelpful and could not supply lactose free alternatives for the meal and B&B packages the chief bridesmaid has pre-booked (despite me advising a lactose free diet from the start...)
And now, BBC Breakfast essentially states most people using Free From foods are self-diagnosing faddy individuals who should just get on with eating normally. Great thanks, that's really going to help people with genuine problems when they are out and about.
Appointments to see dieticians are few and far between - I waited almost a year from the initial referral, so no wonder some people are experimenting with cutting out certain possible triggers. The problem is, if they continue to cut out more and more without using replacements, they finish up with a very narrow diet, and possible malnutrition.
ARGH!!
