Travelling gluten free in Finland

Are you going on a holiday to Finland and looking for the best gluten-free spots? Look no further! We have gathered all necessary information for gluten free in Finland in one easy overview.

Finnish coeliac dietary explanation

Finnish:

Sairastan keliakiaa ja sen vuoksi minun tarvitsee noudattaa tarkkaa gluteenitonta ruokavaliota. En voi syödä pieniäkään määriä vehnää, ruista, ohraa tai kauraa tai niitä sisältäviä ruokia. Voitteko kertoa minulle mitkä ruoka-annokset ovat tällaisia ruokalistallanne tai mitkä voidaan valmistaa ilman vehnää, ohraa, ruista tai kauraa?

Kiitos avustanne.

English:

I have coeliac disease and have to follow a strict gluten-free diet. I cannot eat the smallest amount of wheat, rye, barley or oats or food containing them. Could you point out suitable dishes on your menu or those that can be made without wheat, rye, barley and oats?

Thank you for your help.

Where to buy gluten-free food in Finland

In Finland the gluten-free products can be bought at nearly all supermarkets. Best supermarket chains for price and variety are nationwide S-Market, Prisma, K-Market and Citymarket. Products are available everywhere in Finland and prices are about the same, only local small bakery products can be more expensive and difficult to find. The availability varies somewhat according to the market chain and individual shopkeeper. Larger shops usually have better selection. In S-markets and Prismas the products are usually placed where the normal counterpart products are, e.g. gluten-free pastas are with the normal wheat pastas, gluten-free biscuits are with the normal biscuits, etc. In K-markets and Citymarkets there is usually a separate section for gluten-free food, which is marked with ‘’gluteenittomat’’ (gluten-free). In Finland you’ll find gluten-free bread, buns, and cakes in the freezer and in the fresh section.

Many international brands, such as Semper, Fria Bröd, Schär, Glutafin, Glutano, DS, Orgran and Finax are sold in Finland. Some of the best-known Finnish brands include Brander, Fazer, Moilas, Porokylän leipomo and Pirjon Pakari. Be aware that they have not-gluten-free products as well. On the products is written ‘’gluten-free’’ or “gluteeniton”, some products have also the crossed-grain symbol. It is worth noticing that the gluten-free products are allowed to contain both wheat starch (vehnätärkkelys) and oats (kaura). So, it’s always good to read the ingredients list if you cannot use those.

Gluten-free restaurants and cafes in Finland

Almost all restaurants and cafes serve something gluten-free, many restaurants have put crossed-grain or G (as gluten-free) to their menus for marking gluten-free meals. It’s still always good to ask: “Can I get this meal gluten-free?” or “Is this meal gluten-free?”

You can also get gluten-free meals in Finland – burgers at McDonald’s, Hesburger, Burger King and Rolls, pizza and pasta at nationwide pizza chain Rosso (ask for gluten-free) as well as at Koti Pizza chain. Also a smaller pizza chain Dennis (Helsinki, Turku, Tampere) and some independent pizzerias are selling gluten-free pizzas.

You can find a list of certified gluten-free restaurants and cafes here (only in Finnish): https://www.keliakialiitto.fi/gluteenittomuus/ravintolat-matkailu/gluteenittoman-palvelun-merkilliset/

Gluten-free hotels in Finland

You can also find gluten-free bread from hotel breakfast – if you can’t see any, ask from the staff. It’s also good mention about your gluten-free diet when you book your accommodation. It’s exceptional if they don’t arrange gluten-free bread for you.

Finnish Coeliac Society

Gluten-free Finland – Tips for travellers
https://www.keliakialiitto.fi/briefly-in-english/gluten-free-travel-in-finland/
General information about the Finnish Coeliac Society: https://www.keliakialiitto.fi/briefly-in-english/

Finnish Coeliac Society: Keliakialiitto ry
Hammareninkatu 7 3310 Tampere Finland
Phone: +35832541 300
https://www.keliakialiitto.fi/language/english/
Email: info@keliakialiitto.fi

Finnish Youth Coeliacs, Keliakianuoret
https://keliakianuoret.keliakiayhdistys.fi/english/
Email: keliakianuoret@keliakialiitto.fi
Facebook: Keliakianuoret – Finnish Youth Coeliacs
Instagram: @keliakianuoret

Last update of this Travel Net information: September 2024