LONDON — A 480g Promise gluten-free loaf now costs £3.90 in major UK supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, reflecting a sharp increase in the price of essential gluten-free staples. The average cost of a gluten-free loaf reached £3.12 in mid-2026, up nearly 6% from May 2025, according to data from grocery price comparison service Trolley.co.uk.

Gluten-free food prices have risen faster than general food inflation, which stood at about 3% in the year to April. Gluten-free flour now averages £3.80, over 10% higher than in May 2025. A standard 800g loaf of regular white bread remains available for under £1, while a 550g gluten-free loaf typically costs £1.90. Specialty cereals and baked goods show similar disparities: a 300g pack of gluten-free cornflakes costs around £1.80, compared to half that price for a 500g regular version.

"Promise bread is now £3.90 in Tesco and Sainsbury’s. Even the supermarket own-brand [gluten-free bread] is often about £2 a loaf," said Alison Peters, who runs the website Coeliac Sanctuary. She added, "Gluten-free food is becoming a luxury rather than an essential medical diet for managing a lifelong autoimmune disease."

Research by the charity Coeliac UK found that eight in 10 people struggle to afford gluten-free staples, and three in 10 knowingly consume foods labeled “may contain gluten” to save money. The charity also expressed concern that the withdrawal of adult prescriptions for gluten-free bread and flour in England is straining household budgets.

"Affordability plays a crucial role," said Kiti Soininen, head of UK food and drink research at Mintel. "More shoppers are thinking twice about pricier, specialist products like gluten-free."

Jason Bull, an ingredients firm executive at Eurostar Commodities, cited rising production costs due to required segregation of ingredients and stricter testing regimes. "The need to segregate ingredients and production lines was expensive and time-consuming, and retailers were requesting stricter testing regimes," he said. "This is a good thing but ultimately adds cost."