AiC Mobile - Gluten-free directory & venues

The Italian Coeliac Association (AIC) offers an application designed to enhance the daily experiences of those living with Coeliac Disease: AIC Mobile.

This application allows individuals with Coeliac Disease to easily locate gluten-free products and safe dining options right from their smartphone or tablet, whether at home, on vacation, or during work commitments.

AIC Mobile features various sections including Eating Out, a Food & Drink Directory, and a Gluten-Free Store, enabling users to find gluten-free places to eat and shop in the most secure and convenient manner.

While the AIC Mobile App can be downloaded free of charge by members, others have the option of purchasing a temporary version. The revenue generated from this temporary version will assist the Association in developing new initiatives and providing support to individuals affected by Coeliac Disease. With just a tap, you can contribute to AIC and access valuable resources that enhance the lives of those impacted by Coeliac Disease and their families!

Additionally, a Free version is offered to promote accurate information regarding Coeliac Disease and Dermatitis herpetiformis.

Not yet part of the group? Consider joining AIC today!

Select your region on the map and sign up for membership with an annual fee.

Contributing just € 0.10 per day can empower AIC in its mission to advocate for those affected by Coeliac Disease throughout Italy!

AIC Mobile: An Essential Companion for Navigating Italy Gluten-Free

As someone managing coeliac disease, I've found AIC Mobile to be an indispensable tool that transforms daily challenges into manageable, even enjoyable, experiences. Before discovering this app, dining out or grocery shopping in Italy often involved meticulous planning, frustrating guesswork, and the constant anxiety of accidental gluten exposure. AIC Mobile eliminates that stress with remarkable efficiency. 

Its intuitive interface and reliable database make finding truly safe options – whether it's a last-minute dinner reservation in Rome or a certified gluten-free bakery in a small Tuscan village – surprisingly effortless. The 'Eating Out' section has been a revelation, allowing me to discover dedicated gluten-free restaurants and cafes I wouldn't have found otherwise, turning travel from a source of worry into genuine pleasure. 

The integrated Food & Drink Directory and Gluten-Free Store locator are equally valuable, saving significant time during grocery runs by pinpointing specific safe products and stores nearby. Knowing the app is backed by the authoritative Italian Coeliac Association (AIC) provides immense confidence in the accuracy of its listings, a trust I haven't found in other similar apps. 

While the free version offers valuable disease information, the full membership access unlocks the app's true potential for daily living. Contributing a small fee (around €0.10 per day) feels like a direct investment in my own peace of mind and supports AIC's vital work for the coeliac community across Italy. It's more than an app; it's a lifeline that fosters independence and enjoyment in navigating a gluten-free life in Italy.

FAQ:

Q: Is the app free?

A: AIC offers a free version with essential information about coeliac disease. However, the full functionality – including the crucial location-based features for finding restaurants, stores, and products – requires membership in the Italian Coeliac Association (AIC) or purchasing a temporary pass. Membership provides full app access alongside supporting AIC's advocacy and support services.

Q: Why pay when there are other free gluten-free finder apps?

A: The key advantage is the AIC's rigorous vetting process. Listings in AIC Mobile are verified according to strict AIC protocols, offering a level of trust and safety assurance for coeliacs that generic crowd-sourced apps often lack. The fee directly supports the association's work for the coeliac community.

Q: Does the app work outside of Italy?

A: The primary focus and database strength of AIC Mobile is Italy, reflecting the AIC's national scope. While it might list some international products or chains, its core utility is for navigating Italy safely. Travelers should check specific listings for their destination region within Italy.

The Volunteer Tutor at AFC: Between Challenges and Great Rewards

Since 2000, I have dedicated myself to supporting establishments that wish to offer a suitable and satisfying gluten-free service to people with celiac disease. I am celiac myself—as is my son—and for many years, I served as a volunteer tutor for the Italian Celiac Association’s "Eating Out" (AFC) gluten-free program.

Over all these years, I have contributed—in my own small way—to expanding the AFC network of establishments trained in celiac awareness. These venues are capable of restoring that sense of conviviality which is so often missing for those with celiac disease—especially those recently diagnosed—particularly when dining away from home. Today, I feel compelled to take stock of this journey and share my reflections with the members of the AIC (Italian Celiac Association). It is a story of an experience marked, yes, by its lows, but also by a great many highs—of challenges to be resolved, but also of immense personal and collective satisfaction.

For offering a gluten-free service is undoubtedly a commitment—both for the establishment choosing to do so and for those supporting them along this path. Yet, it is also a great victory for social progress: a dismantling of dietary and cultural barriers, and a step toward a more equitable world. Nor should we forget that, for the establishments themselves, it represents a significant business opportunity.

For us tutors, it is a journey of personal growth and discovery—an immersion into a world that is, quite often, far removed from our own daily lives.

The exchange of intentions—and the act of sharing in the restaurateurs' work alongside them—evolves, over time, into personal growth: growth in dialogue, in professional engagement, and—quite often—in learning how to interact more effectively with others.

But let us turn now to the challenges we encounter in our tutoring service for establishments that decide to join the AFC program. Here they are, in brief:

1. The number of establishments in the network needs to increase—but so does the number of tutors!

To date, there are just over 4,000 establishments participating in the AFC network, spread across Italy. This is an excellent result, but we can—and must—do more. The challenge is that, in addition to increasing the number of participating venues, we also need to increase the number of tutors. The reality is that, even with our current numbers, we often struggle to keep up with the activities involved in guiding venues through the program enrollment process, as well as the annual inspections required for every participating establishment—not to mention the extraordinary inspections triggered by specific reports of issues raised by customers with celiac disease. In short, if you are reading this and want to do your part: become an AFC tutor yourself!

Please note! If you think this volunteer opportunity isn't right for you because it demands too much time, you are mistaken. In reality, the average duration of a monitoring visit is just 1.5 to 2 hours, and the workload is flexible: you can oversee as many venues as you wish, based on your own availability—which, naturally, can also fluctuate over time. This means you need only commit to a minimum of a few dozen hours per year (including periodic training and refresher courses); you can increase that commitment only if you choose to do so.

2. We are on your team, yet sometimes we are perceived as adversaries.

The AFC tutor role—and the entire AFC program—was established with the specific aim of assisting participating venues. We offer training, consulting, and support—often completely free of charge, and occasionally in exchange for a purely symbolic contribution (which goes to the AIC, not to the volunteer tutor, who, by definition, provides their services pro bono). Naturally, there is also an inspection phase—a crucial step for guaranteeing suitability and safety for the individuals with celiac disease who rely on these gluten-free dining services. While some restaurateurs welcome our presence and support regarding gluten-free cuisine with a positive attitude, others view this process as an intrusion or as an attempt to "teach them their trade"; still others describe it as "putting a spoke in their wheels." This is truly a shame, because even the inspection phase is never intended to be punitive; rather, its spirit is collaborative and corrective.

3. Beyond Safety: The Challenge of Normalization. When I first began my journey with the AFC project, my efforts were primarily focused on identifying establishments willing to introduce a gluten-free offering—even a minimal one. However, thanks to the sustained efforts of the AIC and its volunteers, our focus has shifted; now, both I and the other tutors who have worked alongside me over the years are dedicated to building a network of establishments where one can find gluten-free service that is not only safe but also of high quality. Indeed, while safety remains our top priority today, significant effort is also being invested in raising the bar for "normalization." The work currently being undertaken—with both existing member establishments and new ones—aims to enhance service quality and expand the range of available gluten-free options.