News

Aiken Regional Medical Centers has achieved validation as a Gluten-Free Food Service program for patients, meeting rigorous standards and expectations for safety required to achieve this honor.

The Gluten-Free Food Service (GFFS) audits and validates restaurants and food businesses that serve gluten-free food. The Gluten-Free Food Service validation is a program of the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), a nonprofit organization that has been serving the needs of the gluten-free community for over 45 years. GIG is on a mission to make life easier for everyone living gluten-free and Aiken Regional is proud to be a part of this program.

Validation as a Gluten-Free Safe Spot establishes trust with gluten-free patrons in the ability of a facility to provide safe gluten-free food. The validated Gluten-Free Safe Spot logo will be displayed throughout the facility to represent the independent verification of quality, integrity and purity of the gluten-free food served to patients.

“At Aiken Regional, we understand a patient’s desire to receive the best options for their health and nutrition,” said Matt Merrifield, Chief Executive Officer at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. “Offering gluten-free options to our patients demonstrates our team’s continued commitment to each individual patient’s health journey. We are proud to support and address dietary needs that contribute to the high-quality of care provided during their stay, which includes what everyone needs on a daily basis – good nutrition that is right for them.”

Since the program was established in 2009, GFFS has always held its food service establishments to the highest standards. Consumers recognize locations that have been validated as Gluten-Free Safe Spots serving gluten-free food that meets the nonprofit GFFS’s rigorous standards and expectations for safety. GFFS validates participating establishments, from restaurants to college dining, senior living, hospitals and more, by visiting locations in-person to ensure they follow best practices for gluten-free food safety and ensure high-quality staff training.

Facts about the demand for gluten-free

• The demand for gluten-free options has surged in recent years, due in part to increased awareness and diagnosis of gluten-related disorders:
  • Celiac disease affects approximately 1% of the global population, causing an autoimmune reaction to gluten ingestion
  • Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) impacts up to 13% of the population
• According to GIG’s research in 2022:
  • 71% of gluten-free individuals are concerned about the safety of hospital food
  • 95% of gluten-free individuals feel safer at a GFFS Validated Safe Spot

“It’s very exciting to award gluten-free validation to Aiken Regional Medical Centers," said Cynthia Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of the Gluten Intolerance Group. "The commitment shown by Aiken Regional in achieving our certification reflects their dedication to catering to individuals with gluten-related disorders. This certification not only recognizes their efforts but also highlights the commitment to ensuring safe gluten-free food at a time/place when the gluten-free individuals need it the most."