More About Diet

Our Diet collection brings together the French health-food and dietary aisle: Gerblé biscuits and rice cakes, sugar-free and gluten-free products, organic Bjorg and Céréal Bio foods, plant-based proteins such as tofu and vegetable patties, Gerlinéa meal replacements, Gayelord Hauser juices, sweeteners, light jams and lower-salt stocks. Epicerie Corner delivers these French "diet and wellbeing" products across the UK.

The French Diététique Aisle

French supermarkets have a dedicated diététique (dietary) and wellbeing section, separate from the organic aisle, where shoppers find products for particular needs: no added sugar, gluten-free, high-fibre, lower in salt, plant-based protein or calorie-controlled meals. Several of the brands in this collection have long histories in France. Gerblé was created in 1928 in the Lyon area as a specialist in dietary products, and its name comes from biscuits enriched with wheat germ (germe de blé); it is now part of the Nutrition & Santé group based in Revel. Bjorg, created near Lyon, has sold organic products in mainstream French supermarkets since 1988 and belongs to the same group as Gayelord Hauser, a brand named after the American nutritionist who promoted natural eating in the mid-twentieth century.

What's in the Collection

Gerblé Biscuits and Snacks

Gerblé dietetic biscuits with sesame, figs, grapes, apple, soya and orange, chocolate and magnesium, fig and bran, honey and sesame; sugar-free shortbreads and cookies; organic biscuits; corn and rice cakes in savoury and chocolate flavours; Gerblé almond and fig bars; and Gerblé gluten-free breads, palets, cakes and cereal bars.

Rice Cakes and Crispbreads

Bjorg wholemeal rice cakes, rice and sesame, four-cereal, spelt and oat bran, extra-thin corn cakes and chocolate-coated rice and corn cakes, and Bio Village organic rice, corn and four-cereal cakes.

Plant-Based Proteins and Ready Meals

Bjorg organic tofu, smoked tofu, vegan forest terrine and ready grain dishes; and Céréal Bio vegetable patties, falafels, kefta, soya and wheat nuggets, steaks and slices, minced vegetable protein, tofu and grain pouches.

Meal Replacements

Gerlinéa meal-replacement creams, drinks and bars in chocolate, vanilla, caramel and fruit flavours, designed to be used as part of a calorie-controlled diet according to the instructions on the pack.

Sugar Alternatives, Light Spreads and Juices

Edulcorel stevia and sucralose sweeteners, Gayelord Hauser fructose, light and no-added-sugar jams from Andros, Douceur du Verger and Gerblé, and Gayelord Hauser cranberry, pomegranate, prune and carrot juices.

Gluten-Free and Other Essentials

Everyday gluten-free spaghetti, pizza dough and tuiles, Gayelord Hauser konjac tagliatelle, Bjorg and Bio Village oat flakes and oat bran, Special K and Fitness cereals, chia seeds, and Knorr salt-free and reduced-salt stocks.

Gluten-Free Eating

For people with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance, French gluten-free products make it easier to keep familiar habits: gluten-free country and seed breads for tartines, palets and cakes for the goûter, pizza dough for a family pizza night and pasta for weekday meals. Look for the crossed-grain symbol or a "sans gluten" mention, and always check the allergen information, as recipes can change.

Plant-Based Protein

Plant-based eating has grown quickly in France, and brands such as Bjorg and Céréal Bio offer organic alternatives to meat: tofu to marinate and pan-fry, vegetable patties and nuggets for quick dinners, falafels and kefta for wraps, and minced vegetable protein for a Bolognese or chilli. Combining cereals and pulses in the same meal, as in many traditional dishes, is a simple way to vary plant proteins.

How to Choose

• Reducing sugar: sugar-free biscuits, no-added-sugar jams and sweeteners; check total sugar on labels.
• Gluten-free: Gerblé gluten-free range and Everyday gluten-free products; always check allergen information.
• More fibre: oat bran, wholemeal rice cakes and fibre-rich biscuits.
• Plant-based meals: tofu, Céréal Bio patties and grain dishes.
• Less salt: salt-free and reduced-salt stocks.
• Meal replacements: Gerlinéa, used as directed and as part of a varied diet.

Using Dietary Products Wisely

Dietary products can help with specific goals, but they are most useful as part of a balanced, varied diet with plenty of vegetables, fruit and water. Read labels carefully: "sugar-free" products may contain sweeteners or polyols, which can have a laxative effect in large amounts, and "light" products are lighter than the standard version but not necessarily low in calories. Meal replacements should be used exactly as instructed and are not suitable for everyone; anyone who is pregnant, has a medical condition or is under 18 should seek medical advice before following a calorie-controlled diet. For more organic food, browse Organic Food Cupboard.

Diet FAQs

What does "diététique" mean on French products?

Diététique refers to foods designed for particular nutritional needs, such as products without added sugar, gluten-free foods or high-fibre biscuits. In French shops, they are grouped in a dedicated dietary aisle.

Where does the name Gerblé come from?

Gerblé comes from germe de blé, wheat germ, used in the brand's early biscuits. The brand was created in 1928 near Lyon.

What is a meal replacement?

A meal replacement is a product formulated to replace a meal within a calorie-controlled diet, providing a defined amount of energy and nutrients. Follow the instructions on the pack and seek advice if you have health concerns.

What are rice cakes made of?

Rice cakes are made from puffed rice grains pressed together, sometimes mixed with corn, quinoa or seeds, and sometimes coated with chocolate. Plain rice cakes are light and can be topped with spreads, cheese or fruit.

Are sugar-free biscuits suitable for diabetics?

Sugar-free biscuits still contain carbohydrates from flour and may contain sweeteners. People with diabetes should check the nutrition information and follow advice from their healthcare team.