‘Unbelievable’: This is what $100 buys you at the supermarket

Grocery bills are soaring around Australia, with one group having to pay up to 20 per cent more due to a dietary need they can’t control.

The Aussie dollar isn’t stretching far at the supermarket these days, but some shoppers are facing an extra cost due to medical issues.

While inflation is up 7 per cent, lots of everyday grocery items have surged far past this mark – particularly products made for those with specialist dietary requirements.

And the knock-on effect is savage.

One shopper who has to buy produce free from gluten recently revealed how much $100 bought them at the grocery store, labelling it “un-f*****g-belivable”.

The grocery shop included a jar of peanut butter, a bag of mixed leaf greens, a box of Kellogg’s Gluten Free Sultana Bran, a pack of six of El Paso gluten free tortillas, a tomato, two wrapped items from the deli, two loaves of bread, a packets of paper plates and a kilogram block of Woolworths Tasty Cheese.

An Aussie shopper has been left frustrated by their $100 grocery shop. Picture: Reddit

But the real kicker was the inclusion of gluten free items, which typically cost as much as 20 per cent more than their counterparts.

“And as a person with coeliacs (disease) these prices f*****g suck,” one Reddit user commented.

Another replied: “It does. I’m poor poor. And we NEED to eat gf.”

“The light rye bread isn’t gluten free. I assume you have a split diet family like we used to? It was such a pain sometimes,” another said.

One added: “Oh you have an allergy? That will cost you.”

“Why be ethical when you can exploit the people who have no choice but to buy from you,” another said.

Gluten free products are more expensive than their counterparts. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Coeliac disease, which is an allergy to gluten products such as wheat, rye and barley, impacts one in 70 Australians, but four out of five people with the condition are undiagnosed.

A 350g box of gluten free Kellogg’s Sultana Bran costs $7 at Woolworths and Coles, but a box of the regular version of the cereal that is double the size costs $9 at both supermarkets.

Meanwhile, the pack of six of El Paso gluten free tortillas is on sale for $4.80 at Coles but it normally costs $6 at both the supermarkets. The non-gluten free equivalent is $4.

Beckey Excell, a gluten free cook from the UK, said opting for gluten free products can make your grocery bill up to 20 per cent more expensive.

A Woolworths spokesperson told news.com.au the supermarket was expanding its range for those living with restrictive dietaries.

“At Woolworths, we understand that it can be difficult living with a food allergy or intolerance. We also have an ever-increasing range of gluten free products and recipe ideas to help those who follow a gluten free diet.

“Until June 30th 2023, Coeliac Australia members can also receive a 5 per cent discount on their Woolworths shop.”