Celiac Around the World - Finland with Marja
- nwheeler01
- Sep 20
- 8 min read
When I interviewed Marja in Finland, her story echoed what so many people with celiac disease experience around the world. The pattern is familiar: everyday meals leading to persistent stomach aches, symptoms that don’t seem serious at first, and years of uncertainty before finally seeking medical advice. Like countless others, Marja went through blood tests and a biopsy before receiving her diagnosis. Her journey is a reminder that while celiac stories are deeply personal, the symptoms and struggles are often shared no matter where you live.
LIVING WITH CELIAC DISEASE IN FINLAND
How old were you when you were diagnosed with Celiac?
"I was 35 when I was diagnosed. I had a habit of taking a packed lunch to work every day, usually bread or a roll and some yoghurt or fruit. And for quite a long time, I had quite awful stomach aches for the rest of the day after I had had my lunch. No other symptoms, just stomach ache. Then I started having reaction to lactose too, and finally talked about my symptoms to a nurse. She sent me for some blood tests, and the one indicating celiac disease was very clear. I then had a biopsy of the small intestine as well. After celiac disease was confirmed, I had one meeting with a dietitian, and after that, I was on my own to figure things out. I had one follow-up blood test soon after my diagnosis, and after that, nothing. Celiacs are pretty much left to their own devices in Finland."
Do any of your family members have Celiac?
"When I was diagnosed, I was the only one. Later, one close family member was diagnosed, as well as two cousins. So I’d say it runs in the family."
What do you find to be the hardest part of living with Celiac?
"The hardest part of living with celiac disease is probably that you can’t be as spontaneous as you probably could be without it. You must plan things ahead, do research, be really careful, and always ask questions. If you have had an accident and have been glutened, you learn very quickly that that is something you want to avoid at all costs. It is also a bit awkward to always be the one whose dietary requirements have to be considered if you go out for a meal with friends. This is a very Finnish feeling, we don’t want to be a bother to anyone."
Are there any positives that you feel came from your diagnosis?
"There are lots of positives. First of all, I am well, and even the reaction to lactose is gone.
In addition, being a celiac has taught me so many new skills as I cook the majority of the food we eat in my family, bake my own bread, etc.
I have also found a great community of other celiacs online and get the support I didn’t have when I was first diagnosed. I don’t have to take any medication to be ok, I just have to be careful with what I eat, and I don’t find that a problem, so in that sense, celiac is an easy condition to live with. And I usually eat really good food when I travel because I have done the research and usually only go to restaurants that are safe for celiacs.
I don’t think I’d be baking my own sourdough bread if I weren’t celiac. It is a skill I am so happy to have learnt, and it brings me so much joy to have so much choice when it comes to bread. I never found really nice bread when I was diagnosed. The gluten-free bread in supermarkets is still quite boring and doesn’t always have enough fibre. Baking my own bread makes me a happy celiac, and the bread is nutritious and tastes great. Baking is my weekly Zen moment. I love measuring the ingredients into cute little cups, mixing them, waiting for the starter to rise, and then waiting for the bread to prove. The fact that the process of baking gluten-free sourdough takes hours is a joy."
Do you know anyone else with celiac?
"Yes, I do. I have had colleagues who are celiacs, so there has been support at work, too. Now all of them have retired, so I am the only one. I have friends all over the world who are celiacs, and I belong to an online baking group for celiacs."
EATING OUT IN FINLAND
How knowledgeable is the food industry regarding Celiac disease?
"The food industry in Finland has a relatively high level of awareness and is pretty accommodating for celiac disease. There are always plenty of gluten-free options available in most restaurants, lots of gluten-free products in supermarkets, and even fast-food chains usually have gluten-free options on their menus."
Are the menus clearly marked for allergens and gluten-free food?
"The menus are usually marked, but not always. I find that annoying that some restaurants have gluten-free options but can’t be bothered to indicate that on their menu. There is still work to be done in that area. But overall, most restaurants will have gluten-free options and know what gluten-free means."
Do restaurants usually have something you can eat safely?
"Many of the pizza restaurants will have gluten-free pizza on their menu, but it won’t always be safe for celiacs. I always wonder who it is for then. Why bother having something that you call gluten-free if it isn’t ok for people who need to eat gluten-free? One of those mysteries of life.
But other than some pizza restaurants, restaurants in Finland will have gluten-free options, and many dishes are prepared gluten-free anyway, so they really take celiac disease into consideration. But it is still worth asking whether the restaurant can make the dish gluten-free. I have turned away from places where they are unsure. It is not worth experimenting."
What is the easiest/hardest thing about eating out?
"The easiest is that if you go to a chain restaurant, a lunch restaurant, or even a slightly finer restaurant, there will always be something gluten-free for you. The hardest is that the choice is still a bit limited, and quite often they charge extra for gluten-free pizza."
How common are Celiac/gluten-free dietary restrictions in Finland?
"Quite common. 2.4% of Finns are celiacs, and 2-5% of Finns have food allergies. Dietary restrictions are regularly asked for when, for example, you attend some work events, etc., so allergies are taken into account. The Finnish food industry is also quite regulated, so the awareness of dietary restrictions is very high. I’d still like the restaurants to ask their customers if they have a food allergy like they do in the UK."
BUYING GLUTEN-FREE FOOD
Is it easy for you to find gluten-free options at the grocery store?
"I’d say yes and no. On the whole, all supermarkets will have gluten-free options, but the selection may vary, and you may have to go to at least two supermarkets to get all that you need. I tend to stock up so that I don’t have to make multiple trips to different supermarkets often."
Are foods clearly marked gluten-free?
"Yes, they are. Gluten-free is always written in Finnish and Swedish and usually also in English on food products. In addition, the list of ingredients on a product will have all the allergens written in bold. One supermarket chain has a separate shelf for gluten-free products, and the other major one has all the gluten-free products among all the other products, but there is always a "G" on the label on the shelf as well as the price, so it is still relatively easy to find the gluten-free ones. Restaurants also use G to indicate gluten-free dishes."
What would you say is your biggest struggle eating gluten-free in Finland?
"The biggest struggle is the lack of choice. And that is because I live in the countryside, so there really isn’t much to choose from. And another struggle is that too often the gluten-free choices are a bit boring. For example, if you happen to find a restaurant that has celiac-safe pizza, it is always made on the same factory-made pizza base that is as hard as crispbread and quite boring. So, lack of choice and lack of restaurants that put an effort into the gluten-free dishes are my biggest struggles as a celiac living in rural Finland. That is why I love foodie holidays. I plan, do research, and make sure my holiday destination has gluten-free options."
Is eating gluten-free more expensive in Finland?
"It definitely is. There is always some extra on pizzas for some reason. But you don’t usually have to pay extra for other dishes. But restaurants tend to be quite expensive in Finland anyway.
The gluten-free food in supermarkets is always more expensive. For example, pasta can be more than double the price of regular pasta. According to the Finnish Coeliac Association, the gluten-free diet costs 58 euros more a month in Finland."
Does the government help with the expense of gluten-free food?
"Low-income celiacs get 38 euros a month, others don’t get any help at all."
MEDICATION
Do you have to worry about gluten in your over-the-counter or prescribed medication?
"No, I don’t. Medication is usually gluten-free in Finland."
TRAVEL IN FINLAND
Helsinki, Finland
If someone were coming to Finland for the first time, what would you say are the “must-see” spots?
"The must-see includes two options. One option is you visit the capital, Helsinki. Helsinki is a beautiful city in southern Finland, and there is a lot to see. I like walking around the city to see the architecture and the sea. Helsinki Central Library Oodi is really beautiful, as is Temppeliaukio church, which is excavated into solid rock. I always like to go to the Ateneum art museum to see Finnish classics. Another favourite is Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, located on an island near the centre of Helsinki. Helsinki is beautiful all year round, and there is a certain kind of magic in the winter months in particular. There is also a delightful Christmas Market before Christmas.
Lapland, Finland
The other obvious option is to travel to Lapland and experience all the snow, coldness, and harsh nature in winter, or go and see the short summer when the sun doesn’t set at all. Lapland is great for outdoor sports like skiing as well as hiking.
Ostrobothnia, Finland
As I live on the western coast of Finland, I also recommend the Ostrobothnia area with Replot Island, where you can see land uplift due to post-glacial rebound, as well as the beautiful archipelago in the area. There is also a ferry connection to Sweden from Vaasa. In addition, there are some great restaurants serving fish and other local delicacies in the area. I would definitely go to Hejm in Vaasa and Berny’s in Replot, just to name two. "
I’m so grateful to Marja for sharing her journey with celiac disease and for giving us a glimpse into what life is like in Finland with this condition. Her honesty not only sheds light on the challenges many celiacs face but also highlights the unique ways her country supports those living gluten-free. Thank you, Marja, for sharing both your story and your perspective on celiac life in Finland.