Gluten-free Eating Out Conference Initiative in Belgrade
The BEcME Conference in Belgrade, 8 February 2025, brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss improving gluten-free dining options. The key focus of the conference was the need to ensure high-quality, safe, and affordable meals for people with celiac disease in restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality establishments.
The BEcME group is a collaborative network of European Coeliac Associations within the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS). This includes associations from Italy (AIC), Romania (ARIG), Greece (Hellenic Coeliac Association), and Serbia (Serbian Celiac Society).
Conference participants included representatives from the Italian (AIC), Romanian (ARIG), and Greek (Hellenic) Coeliac Associations, as well as professionals from the HORECA sector, nutritionists, researchers, government representatives, and chefs.
Discussions covered challenges in ensuring safe and accessible gluten-free meals, particularly in hospitality, schools, and public institutions. Presentations ranged from addressing misinformation and business opportunities in the gluten-free industry to food safety regulations and best practices.
A major outcome was the BEcME group’s commitment to work on a basic, standardised Eating Out Gluten-Free scheme, along with guidelines for collective catering in schools and hospitals.
A valuable part of the conference was the sharing of video experiences from the Polish and Spanish Coeliac Associations, as well as from restaurant chefs in Italy and Greece, who are already successfully implementing gluten-free meals in their establishments.
The conference concluded with a strong call for continued collaboration. Monthly online meetings will be held to coordinate the next steps and align activities with AOECS to avoid duplication.
Eating out gluten-free in Europe