Dani Hemer
Successfully Passed the Oat Challenge
Can Coeliacs Eat Oats? Oat Challenge Stories from the Community
The Journey of Coeliacs & Oats
For many people with coeliac disease, oats have always been off the table. But as awareness grows around pure, uncontaminated oats, more coeliacs are discovering they may be able to safely enjoy them after completing a medically guided oat challenge.
View a series of Coeliac stories below.
Oat Challenge Stories
This page shares the stories of people who have completed an oat challenge using GF Oats. Everyone’s journey with coeliac disease is different, and these stories highlight real experiences from individuals who worked with their healthcare professionals to safely reintroduce oats into their diet.
From the nerves of the first bowl of oats to the excitement of enjoying oat pancakes or overnight oats again, these stories show what the oat challenge can look like in real life.
Whether you're considering the oat challenge yourself or simply curious about others’ experiences, we hope these stories provide encouragement, insight, and a reminder that you're not alone on this journey.
Please note: An oat challenge should always be undertaken under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.
"Hi all,
I’m a parent to a coeliac child and a seronegative coeliac myself, here is my story.
I was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2017 after experiencing severe gastrointestinal problems and dropping weight rapidly. After the blood results came back they said I was unlikely coeliac but we proceeded with upper and lower scopes, I was diagnosed with eronegative coeliac. When I was initially diagnosed I was told to avoid wheat, barley, oats & rye as the main foods and handed me a pamphlet, no follow up or dietician.
I started doing my own research and discovered that only 10% of coeliacs react to oats, so I decided to speak to my general practitioner about doing an oat challenge. I was approved to do an oat challenge through an gastroenterologist and they decided I’d have to have 3 scopes in order to make sure I wasn’t reacting, as my blood tests don’t show coeliac compliance. I had my first scope (with biopsy) to make sure my bowels were healthy and set a baseline, they then instructed me to eat 70grams of pure uncontaminated oats daily and monitor for symptoms. To prevent symptoms that weren’t related to the oats I started at 20g and increased 20g per week until I reached 70g. I continued eating oats for 4 months when they did my second biopsy, it came back clear! No damage or inflammation so they advised me I would be ok to continue eating oats unless I started showing symptoms and they booked in a final biopsy for 6 months time. That biopsy also came back clear and I have officially passed the oat challenge!
Before my oat challenge I dove into different brands, their beliefs and ethos and that Kylie’s gf oats were the best way to go. I never enjoyed most breakfast foods other than overnight oats so when I was diagnosed coeliac it was devastating to have my options even more limited. I struggled with weight loss, irregularity, low fibre, feeling hungry.
Since passing the oat challenge my overnight oats have become my staple food again and I feel so much healthier, fuller, regular and have more energy for my baby.
My daughter is in the process of getting her coeliac diagnosis and I will be advocating for an oat challenge so she doesn’t have to restrict more of her diet. "
John Blake
Successfully Passed the Oat Challenge
"I completed the Oat Challenge in October 2025.
I have always loved oats, when I told my doctor I was going to see what would happen if i started eating oats again, she told me to slowly add it back into my breakfast, she was encouraging and monitored me. There wasn't any inflammation or anything.
I added oats back into my diet because they are nutritious and delicious. We are also on the pension and they are affordable and the health benefits are great. They also fill us. Our favourite way to enjoy oats is porridge, with cinnamon sugar, or golden syrup. So bloody yummy.
If you're a coeliac who's nervous about doing an oat challenge my advice is "just do it, nothing to lose and a yummy breakfast to gain."
I'm excited to not only begin eating oats again but to support an Aussie company."
Try our Oats for FREE
Ready to get started but not sure which oats to choose? Why not give our three hero oats a go, in this Oaty Starter Pack. Yours FREE when you use code OATYSTARTER at checkout. *Limited to 1 free pack per person.
Want to Share Your Story?
We’ll use your story to share with others as part of our mission to help more people get oats back into their diets. In exchange we are going to send you some Oaty bucks to say thank you ($25 voucher for a written only response and $50 for a written + video)!
*T&C's apply.
Oat Challenge FAQs
What Is the Oat Challenge?
The oat challenge is a structured process where a person with coeliac disease gradually introduces pure oats into their diet under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
Because most oats available in the food system are contaminated with wheat, barley, or rye, oats have historically been excluded from the coeliac diet. However, when oats are grown and processed in a way that prevents contamination, they may be tolerated by many people with coeliac disease.
During an oat challenge, a healthcare professional will typically recommend introducing a small amount of pure oats into the diet and monitoring symptoms and blood markers over time.
This helps determine whether that individual can safely include oats as part of their gluten free diet.
Can coeliacs eat oats in Australia?
In Australia, current food labelling laws do not allow oats to be labelled as gluten free, even if they are pure and uncontaminated.
Because of this, people with coeliac disease should only consume oats if they have completed an oat challenge under medical guidance and are using pure oats that are free from gluten contamination... like ours.
What are purity protocol oats?
Purity protocol oats are oats that are grown, harvested, transported, and processed separately from gluten containing grains such as wheat, barley, and rye.
This strict system prevents cross contamination, which is the main reason most oats are not considered safe for people with coeliac disease.
GF Oats follow the Global Oats Purity Protocol, ensuring the oats remain pure from paddock to packet.
Why are most oats not safe for coeliacs?
Oats themselves do not contain gluten. The problem is that most oats become contaminated with gluten during farming and processing.
Oats are often grown in rotation with wheat or processed in the same facilities as gluten containing grains. This means traces of wheat, barley, or rye can end up in the oats.
Purity protocol oats are grown and processed using strict controls to prevent this contamination. GF Oats is currently the only Australian supplier of oats that meet these protocols.
How long does an oat challenge take?
The length of an oat challenge can vary depending on the advice of a healthcare professional. In many cases, it may take several weeks to a few months to properly monitor how a person with coeliac disease responds to oats.
During this time, oats are usually introduced gradually and symptoms are monitored. Some healthcare professionals may also recommend blood tests to check coeliac markers.
Can Coeliacs Eat Oats? The Latest Research
For many years, oats were excluded from the coeliac diet because of concerns about gluten contamination and uncertainty about whether oats themselves were safe.
Research over the past few decades has helped clarify this. Studies now show that most people with coeliac disease can tolerate pure oats, as the protein found in oats (called avenin) is different from the gluten proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye.
Current research suggests that around 90% of people with coeliac disease can include pure oats in their diet once they have completed a medically supervised oat challenge. However, a small percentage of coeliacs may still react to avenin, which is why introducing oats should always be done under medical guidance.
Another important factor is contamination. Most oats on the market are grown, transported, or processed alongside gluten-containing grains, which can introduce gluten into the final product.
This is why purity protocol oats are important. These oats are grown and processed using strict controls that prevent contact with wheat, barley, or rye at every stage of production.
For people with coeliac disease who successfully complete an oat challenge, pure oats can provide a valuable addition to the gluten free diet, offering a versatile wholegrain option for meals like porridge, overnight oats, pancakes, and baking.