Gluten-free versions of everyday staples such as bread and biscuits are becoming a luxury, with shoppers complaining that a “decent” small loaf now costs nearly £4.

Consumers have always paid a premium for these specialist foods, making any price increases a source of concern, particularly for people who follow a gluten-free diet for medical reasons.

While a standard 800g loaf of supermarket white bread can still be bought for less than £1, a smaller (550g) gluten-free equivalent typically costs about £1.90. Branded products are even pricier: a 480g Promise gluten-free loaf is now £3.90 in many shops.

“A decent gluten-free loaf now regularly costs about £4,” says Alison Peters, who runs the website Coeliac Sanctuary . “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.”

Before the Iran war started, UK food price increases were slowing down after a jump following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.…