Press release —
AOECS Launches Report on Safer Gluten-Free Catering
Following the first-ever European Parliament debate dedicated to safe gluten-free catering, the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS) has published a new report outlining practical next steps to improve safety, inclusion and mobility for people living with coeliac disease across Europe.
The report, Improving Gluten-Free Awareness & Safety in the Catering Sector, captures the key discussions from the event and identifies priorities for future action.
The report builds on discussions held at the European Parliament on 13 May 2026, where patient organisations, hospitality professionals, industry representatives and policymakers came together to address the barriers people with coeliac disease continue to face when eating outside the home. Participants recognised that safe gluten-free dining is not simply a dietary issue, but one of health, accessibility and equal participation in society.
Drawing on the event's conclusions, AOECS has identified three priority areas for future action: consistency and awareness, inclusion, and mobility. Proposed measures include improved training and education for hospitality professionals, more consistent implementation of allergen information requirements, better access to safe gluten-free meals in public institutions, and greater consideration of the needs of people requiring medically necessary diets when travelling and participating in education and work across Europe.
"Europe already has many examples of good practice," says AOECS Secretary General Veronica Rubio. "The challenge now is to share knowledge, strengthen cooperation and turn successful local initiatives into wider European solutions that improve the daily lives of people living with coeliac disease."
AOECS will continue working with its member societies, European institutions and industry partners to further develop these recommendations and support practical actions that make gluten-free dining safer, more accessible and more inclusive across Europe.
Read the full report: Event Report & Next Steps.
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The Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS) is an independent, non-profit umbrella organisation of over 40 member and affiliated National Coeliac Societies. Together with our members, we represent people affected by coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis across Europe and beyond.
We are involved in several international initiatives to raise awareness of coeliac disease, gluten free diets, and encourage research into coeliac disease early diagnosis, patient’s quality of life and cure.
