Lebanon’s Gluten-Free Price Disparity Exposed

If you’re living with celiac disease or managing a gluten intolerance in Lebanon, you’ve probably felt the sting at checkout. Gluten-free groceries are already expensive worldwide — but in Lebanon, the price disparity between stores is particularly glaring.

We tracked prices for common gluten-free products — from pasta and almond milk to snacks and flour — across major supermarkets and health food stores in Beirut and beyond. What we found was not just surprising — it was deeply concerning.

The Same Product, Vastly Different Prices

Some of the most essential gluten-free products are being sold at drastically different prices depending on where you shop:

  • Schar Gluten Free Curvies BBQ: $5.90 at Toters Fresh vs. $9.89 at Marche Urbain
  • Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose Baking Flour: $9.77 at Livgood vs. $11.00 at Wesley’s
  • Barilla Gluten Free Fusilli: $2.42 at Storium vs. $2.99 at Wesley’s
  • Alpro Almond Drink: $3.79 at Spinneys vs. $4.95 at Carrefour

These aren’t luxury items — they’re basic, everyday groceries that people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities depend on to stay healthy. For many families, especially those with children or elderly relatives affected by celiac, these inflated prices create an added layer of stress on top of managing a lifelong medical condition.

Gluten-Free Grocery Price Comparison in Lebanon

Here are visual comparisons showing the prices of popular gluten-free items across well-known stores like Spinneys, Carrefour, Bio District, Toters Fresh, Storium, Marqet, Noknok, Wesley’s, Maison M, Faddoul, Le Charcutier, and others.

Schar Snacks & Bob’s Red Mill Flour

Schar gluten-free snacks and baking flour prices across Lebanese stores: Toters Fresh, Storium, Maison M, Wesley’s, Noknok, and Marche Urbain. Schar Curvies, Digestive, and Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose Flour show wide pricing gaps.

Gullon Cookies & Biscuits

Gluten-free cookies and biscuit price comparison in Lebanon for Gullon products. Stores include Marqet, Livgood, Toters Fresh, Le Charcutier, Noknok, Faddoul, and Bio District. Visualizes where to find the cheapest gluten-free snacks in Beirut.

Dairy Alternatives & Condiments

Alpro almond milk, Alpro Barista, and French’s Yellow Mustard price comparison in Lebanon. Shows where gluten-free consumers can find the lowest-priced dairy alternatives and condiments, from Spinneys and Promarche to Carrefour and Le Charcutier.

Barilla & Schar Pasta Products

Price comparison for Barilla Gluten Free Fusilli and Schar Gluten Free Gnocchi across Lebanese supermarkets including Storium, Noknok, Marqet, Bio District, and Wesley’s. Highlights show major price disparities in gluten-free pasta options in Lebanon.

What Can Be Done

We call on local retailers, distributors, and policymakers to:

  • Review and justify the price points for gluten-free items
  • Improve price transparency
  • Consider fair pricing frameworks for health-essential food products

We also encourage shoppers to:

  • Compare prices when possible
  • Share their findings and experiences
  • Tag stores offering fairer prices to help others in the community

Together, we can push for more equitable pricing and raise awareness of what it’s really like to live gluten-free in Lebanon.

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