Shoppers looking for gluten-free choices have shown significant dismay after Aldi revealed it would discontinue its Free From range.

The low-cost retailer introduced its dedicated Free From department as a trial initiative in January 2025, with the items stocked in around 300 outlets across the company’s network of approximately 1,000 UK stores.

The retailer has now announced the trial has finished after customers reported that their favourite products had either vanished entirely or become much harder to find on shelves.

People who need gluten-free items and those affected by coeliac disease, an immune condition that prevents gluten consumption, shared their annoyance on various social media sites.

Multiple responders said they were heartbroken by the news, with one suggesting that stockists should be required by law to provide gluten-free choices.

The budget-friendly chain insists it stays devoted to meeting the needs of shoppers with particular nutritional requirements and maintains collaborations with leading allergy charities.

An Aldi spokesperson explained that the dedicated Free From sections were rolled out in certain stores as an experiment last year, and while this experiment has now wrapped up, the company remains dedicated to ensuring customers can find everything they require at Aldi, with specialist diet products still accessible on shelves. The retailer continues working with major allergy charities to support specialty diets wherever possible.

Consumers turned to TikTok to share their worries, with some calling the removal ridiculous.

One responder said the situation was unfair, noting some individuals rely on these products for sustenance and questioned whether such a decision should be permissible.

Another commented that it was the sole bread variety they had enjoyed and could tolerate.

A third stated it was truly shocking, expressing sympathy for those losing access to these options.

A fourth concurred, calling it shameful given how restricted selections already are in most outlets for essentials such as pasta and bread.

However, one individual provided an alternative viewpoint, suggesting it was unfortunate but noted the company likely wasn’t generating any revenue from the range, though they felt insufficient time had been allowed since few of their gluten-free acquaintances had even realised Aldi stocked gluten-free items.