Ep 29 Gluten Free Consumer Survey with Kim Koeller
Let’s start the blog with the Show Notes for this episode:
Who knew that more than a dozen years after sitting with Kim Koeller at the banquet of a Canadian Celiac Conference, we’d be talking on my podcast about her results of a survey of gluten free consumers formulated over ten years. It’s always interesting to me when someone is able to pull on their past experience and career and bring it to the gluten free arena. Kim was a management consultant to whom taking the pulse of consumers was a vital indicator of how interested businesses should proceed. Thanks Kim for bringing your expertise our way. I have included a link for the infographic Kim sent to me.
2018 Research Consumer Infographic Gluten Free Passport and Gluten Free Media Group (1)
Sue’s Websites and Social Media –
Podcast – acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – acanadianceliacblog.com
Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast
Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Baking Website – suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
(search Sues Gluten Free Baking)
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com
2018 Research Consumer Infographic Gluten Free Passport and Gluten Free Media Group (1)
My Thoughts –
Being a gluten free consumer is very similar to the many stages of acceptance of celiac disease.
First, we deny our condition and for some reason, think we can still buy the same products we always did, only to find out we can’t eat them.
Next, we do our best to become educated on gluten in all its many forms, and read labels like some sort of ninja shopper.
Then, we scour the stores to replace each and every food item we previously enjoyed.
I remember times when I would read a label and be angry because the manufacturer only had to replace one item to make the food gluten free, why wouldn’t they have done that?
Eventually, we become comfortable with our new normal; getting back to buying the same things most weeks, often checking labels and looking for GF symbols, but settling into an altered lifestyle, with hopefully healthy gluten free choices.
Sometimes, it’s hard to remember back to when I questioned ingredients, labels and health claims on foods. I’m comfortable shopping for gluten free. It’s only when I’m in a different country that I become very diligent once more and read (or translate) everything to ensure its safety.
The results of this consumer survey indicate the areas where we have become comfortable, and which we still need to work on. Seems we need to work on others, in social situations, in restaurants, on airplanes and anywhere else we may need to eat. It’s not us, it’s them. Be gentle, be informative, and look forward to how much we will learn and grow in the next ten years. I need to post a reminder in my calendar to fill our Kim’s next survey – in 2027!