Woman can have chips with everything

12:10pm Monday 26th November 2007

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A BLAENAVON woman can finally have her chips, thanks to a Cwmbran chippie who serves gluten-free food six days a week.

Jane Heath was diagnosed with coeliac, an auto-immune disease which prevents people from eating anything containing gluten, three years ago.

The disease has caused havoc in her daily life, as gluten-free food can be hard to come by, and symptoms include nausea and diarrhoea.

She said: "You can't eat barley, wheat, rye or oats, that means no bread, pasta, pizza or cornflakes.

"People react differently but I'm so sensitive that if someone cuts bread then prepares salad with the same knife I'll become poorly.

"I hardly ever go out for dinner because you can't be sure how foods are prepared, I didn't have a social life.

"I always needed to be close to a toilet, and would always have low energy.

"Since being diagnosed I have more confidence to go out and I don't have to starve myself before going out with friends.

"It effects every aspect of your life, you really have to treat it as a religion."

But she recently discovered her saviour in the form of Fairwater Fish and Chip Shop at Fairwater Square.

Owner Rob Strinati believes he is the only chip shop in Wales to sell gluten free good every day he's open.

He said: "We started doing it two months ago after Jane and another lady came in asking for gluten free food.

"Luckly we have a third pan and hot box which we can use just for gluten free food, which includes chips and anything in batter.

"Even though the gluten-free flour is a bit more expensive we charge the same because we're prepared to do that for our customers."

Mr Strinati, who has owned the shop for 10 years, says the gluten-free option has already proved popular and hopes it will become more so once word spreads.

One woman from Newport used to travel the 200 mile round trip to Tenby for her chips, until she discovered Rob's place.

Coeliac fact file Symptoms include bloating, diarrhoea, nausea, wind, tiredness, constipation, anaemia, depression, hair loss, infertility, recurrent miscarriages and mouth ulcers.

Believed to affect one in 300 people in the UK Often misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome or lactose intolerance Foods to avoid include pizza, pasta, bread, pastry and cakes Safe foods include meats, fruit and vegetables, rice and potatoes