ITALY: FIRST COUNTRY TO SCREEN KIDS FOR CELIAC DISEASE, TYPE 1 DIABETES
- Sep 15, 2025
- 2 min read
Sept 12, 2025, Euro Weekly: Italy launches world’s first child screening law for coeliac disease
("COELIAC" is British England for celiac)
Italy has become the first country to legally mandate nationwide screening for coeliac disease and type 1 diabetes in children aged between two and ten, following the approval of Law 130/2023.
In 2024, a pilot programme tested the feasibility of mass screening. It involved more than 5,000 children and around 400 paediatricians across four regions: Lombardy, Sardinia, Marche and Campania.
According to initial results, 2.8–2.9 per cent of children tested positive for coeliac-specific antibodies, more than double the global average of around 1–1.4 per cent. This suggests many Italian children may be living with the condition without diagnosis.
The study also found 0.8 per cent of children showed markers for type 1 diabetes, highlighting the potential of the new law to catch chronic illnesses before they cause serious complications.
What is Coeliac Disease?
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition in which the body reacts to gluten, damaging the small intestine and making it harder to absorb nutrients. The Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS) estimates around 1 in 100 Europeans have the disease, yet only about 25 per cent are diagnosed.
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is also an autoimmune condition, where the immune system destroys the pancreas’ insulin-producing cells. Without insulin, the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels.
According to the IDF Diabetes Atlas, Europe now has about 2.7 million people living with type 1 diabetes.
The glyphosate and coeliac debate
Beyond genetics, some researchers have argued that environmental factors –particularly the herbicide glyphosate – could be fuelling rising coeliac rates.
A 2013 paper by Anthony Samsel and Stephanie Seneff suggested glyphosate might be “the most important causal factor” in the modern coeliac epidemic. Their analysis showed gut damage in animals exposed to glyphosate similar to that seen in coeliac patients.
A European urine study even found 44 per cent of city dwellers had detectable glyphosate residues, pointing to diet as a key exposure route.
However, the theory remains highly controversial. Mainstream medical organisations have not confirmed glyphosate as a proven trigger, and many experts attribute rising diagnoses to improved screening and awareness.
The Italian Coeliac Society (AIC), part of the national Observatory created by the law, has been instrumental in raising awareness among families and healthcare professionals.
The initiative has been described as pioneering and is being closely watched by health experts worldwide, who see Italy as a test case for whether mass screening could reshape childhood healthcare policy elsewhere.
To share the findings, the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS) will host a special webinar on:
The event will feature Olimpia Vincentini, Senior Scientist at the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), with an introduction by Giorgio Mulè, Vice-President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and promoter of the law.
With more than double the expected rate of coeliac prevalence revealed in early testing, Italy’s bold experiment could push other countries to follow suit. But questions remain about cost, logistics, and whether such widescale testing should become a standard part of paediatric care..
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