The inner-west’s growing restaurant scene now has another point of difference with Maribyrnong council recently becoming the first municipality in Australia to have its own gluten free dining accreditation scheme.
The Accredited Gluten-Free Dining Project is a collaboration between council, Coeliac Australia and Victoria University aimed at ensuring those with gluten sensitivities have a safe and trustworthy experience when eating out.
The initiative comes after a recent survey of people with coeliac disease – a common immune-based condition caused by a reaction to gluten – found almost 90 per cent of respondents experienced anxiety when dining out.
The survey conducted by Coeliac Australia also revealed that 95 per cent of respondents undertook research before eating out, 55 per cent wished they could eat out more and only 10 per cent trusted gluten-free claims made by restaurants.
The accreditation program is designed to provide restaurants with the knowledge and skills needed to provide authentic gluten-free options and meet accreditation standards. To further assist them, local restaurants are assigned dietetics students from Victoria University who review all menu items and ingredients to identify where gluten containing items might be and then liaise with the accreditation dietitian at Coeliac Australia.
So far, Campground Kitchen in Errol Street, Braybrook, and Cupcake Central located at Level 2, Highpoint Shopping Centre, Maribyrnong, have been gluten-free accredited and are listed on Coeliac Australia’s website.
Other venues to be accredited will also be listed on the website, ensuring diners can easily find safe gluten-free options.
Maribyrnong council has covered the cost of the accreditation scheme.
For more information, visit: foodhealth@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au or call 9688 0200.
