I always make the effort to educate family members about gluten-free eating when we are sharing meals, writes reader Angela Harris. At a large family gathering a distant relative asked me, "What is gluten and why is it free?" I thought it was a joke. As it turned out, he really didn't know!
Another reader tells us: I went to a chain restaurant with friend, a restaurant I knew had a gluten-free menu. As the waitress handed me a regular menu I said, "I need a gluten-free menu." She responded, "I can take these menus to the kitchen and wash them off for you."
-Triumph Dining Gluten-Free Publications
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Gluten In Medications
Last November, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) announced that it would conduct a first-of-its-kind research study on gluten in medications, funded by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). NFCA, partnering with St. John's University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, is conducting this research in two parts. The first part of the study is happening now: a survey of the celiac and gluten sensitive populations.
NFCA urges all people who are following a gluten-free diet to participate. Participants will be asked about their experiences taking medicine. They will also be asked to share information if they think they might have had a gluten-related reaction to an over-the-counter or prescription medicine.
Results from the survey will guide the second phase of the study: our team will test some of the medicines identified in the survey to see if they contain gluten.
This critically needed preliminary research aims to validate or nullify the anecdotal adverse experiences associated with gluten in medications that have been reported by people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. It is a first step to determine if more investigation is needed which may lead to additional research, labeling, and safe use guideline initiatives. More information about the Safe Use Initiative can be found at www.fda.gov/safeuseinitiative .
We are looking to generate as MANY responses as possible to strengthen our research. We need YOUR help in this effort. We ask that you circulate this message and invite all those who are gluten-free to complete this survey. You also can use the attached article in your organization’s newsletter.
To participate in the this survey, please go to www.CeliacCentral.org/Survey. The survey takes between 4-15 minutes to complete. It closes on February 28, 2012.
To learn more about Phase One of our Gluten in Medications research, visit NFCA’s website: http://www.celiaccentral.org/research-news/gluten-in-medications-survey-now-available-from-nfca/
Questions? Contact Nancy Ginter at nginter@CeliacCentral.org or at 215-325-1306, ext. 101. Many thanks for your consideration and assistance.
NFCA urges all people who are following a gluten-free diet to participate. Participants will be asked about their experiences taking medicine. They will also be asked to share information if they think they might have had a gluten-related reaction to an over-the-counter or prescription medicine.
Results from the survey will guide the second phase of the study: our team will test some of the medicines identified in the survey to see if they contain gluten.
This critically needed preliminary research aims to validate or nullify the anecdotal adverse experiences associated with gluten in medications that have been reported by people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. It is a first step to determine if more investigation is needed which may lead to additional research, labeling, and safe use guideline initiatives. More information about the Safe Use Initiative can be found at www.fda.gov/safeuseinitiative .
We are looking to generate as MANY responses as possible to strengthen our research. We need YOUR help in this effort. We ask that you circulate this message and invite all those who are gluten-free to complete this survey. You also can use the attached article in your organization’s newsletter.
To participate in the this survey, please go to www.CeliacCentral.org/Survey. The survey takes between 4-15 minutes to complete. It closes on February 28, 2012.
To learn more about Phase One of our Gluten in Medications research, visit NFCA’s website: http://www.celiaccentral.org/research-news/gluten-in-medications-survey-now-available-from-nfca/
Questions? Contact Nancy Ginter at nginter@CeliacCentral.org or at 215-325-1306, ext. 101. Many thanks for your consideration and assistance.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A Launches New Kids’ Meal With Grilled Chicken Nuggets
Chick-fil-A has a generally good reputation amongst the gluten-free community, and with their latest announcement I expect their reputation will only improve.
According to the press release on their website, Chick-fil-A is adding two new, healthy options for their Kids’ Meal: grilled chicken nuggets and Buddy Fruits® Pure Blended Fruit To Go. Combined with one of the beverage choices (skim milk, apple juice, lemonade or water), it’s about as healthy of a fast food meal as you’re likely to find anywhere.
Now, before I type up the rest of the press release, let’s jump over quickly to the disclaimer on Chick-fil-A’s gluten free info online:
…Some ingredients such as spices and natural flavors may be proprietary; therefore, we may not have the source listed for those items. We recommend you review this list with your physician before consuming any of the products listed below, or any other item on our menu. Although the ingredients in these menu items are gluten-free, we do not have gluten free prep areas and procedures for assembly of these menu items.
What does this mean for you? Before you go ahead an order anything, ask the location that you’re at whether or not the fryer is dedicated (anecdotal reports indicate that most locations do have dedicated fryers for their fries). If you’re concerned about cross-contamination, ask that the people preparing your food change gloves and use clean tongs. The web is full of stories of Chick-fil-A employees happily taking these precautions, and full of celiac diners happily eating — but without clearly explaining your needs and deciding whether or not you feel that the people behind the counter understand what you’re asking, there are no guarantees.
The press release clearly indicates that both the grilled nuggets and the blended fruit are gluten-free, describing them as:
Introduction of Grilled Nuggets: These gluten-free Grilled Nuggets are made from a boneless, skinless breast of chicken tumbled in a salt and pepper spice blend and then grilled to perfection. The four count is only 80 calories and 1 gram of fat, while the six count contains 110 calories and 1.5 grams of fat.
Addition of Buddy Fruits® Pure Blended Fruit To Go: Apple Cinnamon: Each squeezable fruit pouch is gluten free, all natural and contains 100 percent pure fruit. It is 60 calories, 0 grams of fat and equals one serving of fruit.
This is heartening not just because of the ingredients — which are indisputably better for everyone than deep-fried nuggets and fries — but because the company made a point of spelling out the relevancy for celiacs loud and clear.
-Triumph Dining Gluten-Free Publications
Chick-fil-A has a generally good reputation amongst the gluten-free community, and with their latest announcement I expect their reputation will only improve.
According to the press release on their website, Chick-fil-A is adding two new, healthy options for their Kids’ Meal: grilled chicken nuggets and Buddy Fruits® Pure Blended Fruit To Go. Combined with one of the beverage choices (skim milk, apple juice, lemonade or water), it’s about as healthy of a fast food meal as you’re likely to find anywhere.
Now, before I type up the rest of the press release, let’s jump over quickly to the disclaimer on Chick-fil-A’s gluten free info online:
…Some ingredients such as spices and natural flavors may be proprietary; therefore, we may not have the source listed for those items. We recommend you review this list with your physician before consuming any of the products listed below, or any other item on our menu. Although the ingredients in these menu items are gluten-free, we do not have gluten free prep areas and procedures for assembly of these menu items.
What does this mean for you? Before you go ahead an order anything, ask the location that you’re at whether or not the fryer is dedicated (anecdotal reports indicate that most locations do have dedicated fryers for their fries). If you’re concerned about cross-contamination, ask that the people preparing your food change gloves and use clean tongs. The web is full of stories of Chick-fil-A employees happily taking these precautions, and full of celiac diners happily eating — but without clearly explaining your needs and deciding whether or not you feel that the people behind the counter understand what you’re asking, there are no guarantees.
The press release clearly indicates that both the grilled nuggets and the blended fruit are gluten-free, describing them as:
Introduction of Grilled Nuggets: These gluten-free Grilled Nuggets are made from a boneless, skinless breast of chicken tumbled in a salt and pepper spice blend and then grilled to perfection. The four count is only 80 calories and 1 gram of fat, while the six count contains 110 calories and 1.5 grams of fat.
Addition of Buddy Fruits® Pure Blended Fruit To Go: Apple Cinnamon: Each squeezable fruit pouch is gluten free, all natural and contains 100 percent pure fruit. It is 60 calories, 0 grams of fat and equals one serving of fruit.
This is heartening not just because of the ingredients — which are indisputably better for everyone than deep-fried nuggets and fries — but because the company made a point of spelling out the relevancy for celiacs loud and clear.
-Triumph Dining Gluten-Free Publications
February Meeting
Please come join us for our next GIG meeting on Saturday,
February 18th from 10am-12pm.
We have a new location,
The Village at Van Mall Apartments Clubhouse
5000 NE 72nd Ave, Vancouver, WA 98661
The cross street is Van Mall Drive.
Parking is on the street, so make sure to check the signs.
Our guest speakers are:
Linda Chaplik from Oh! Goodness Baking
Jeff Lee from Living Earth Bakery
Junea Rocha from Brazi Bites
Don't miss it! See you there...
February 18th from 10am-12pm.
We have a new location,
The Village at Van Mall Apartments Clubhouse
5000 NE 72nd Ave, Vancouver, WA 98661
The cross street is Van Mall Drive.
Parking is on the street, so make sure to check the signs.
Our guest speakers are:
Linda Chaplik from Oh! Goodness Baking
Jeff Lee from Living Earth Bakery
Junea Rocha from Brazi Bites
Don't miss it! See you there...
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Gluten Free Pop Tarts
"The latest update is that the arrival date has been delayed again. At this point, we are not going to speculate as to when they will be available due to the numerous delays. As we have stated in our update emails, a toaster pastry is a difficult product to manufacture (think to how many non-gluten free pop tarts are available on the market) and delays in launching such a unique allergy friendly product is not surprising. We are keeping a list of individuals who want to be notified when they arrive. Email us at info@navanfoods.com to be notified. Please note that we are a retailer for this product and not the manufacturer. Navan Foods will have them available for purchase only online here when they become available. If you would like to know where they will be available to you locally, please contact the company, Eco Planet, for that information.
There are two staples missing from the allergy free market: gluten free/dairy free pop tarts and goldfish crackers. Well, soon there will be a GF/DF pop tart available from Eco Planet. This company manufactures the hot cereals which is free of the top eight allergens and so will be the toaster pastries.
The toaster pastries will be available in Frosted Blueberry, Frosted Strawberry, and Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon. We heard from the company that they should be available in early September."
-Navan Foods Newsletter
There are two staples missing from the allergy free market: gluten free/dairy free pop tarts and goldfish crackers. Well, soon there will be a GF/DF pop tart available from Eco Planet. This company manufactures the hot cereals which is free of the top eight allergens and so will be the toaster pastries.
The toaster pastries will be available in Frosted Blueberry, Frosted Strawberry, and Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon. We heard from the company that they should be available in early September."
-Navan Foods Newsletter
Thursday, January 19, 2012
GMO Labeling
"Over 75 percent of packaged foods now contain one or more GMOs; over 80 percent of crops like corn and soy are genetically engineered. GMOs are in cooking oils, sugars, and baking powder; they’re also in surprising products like bee pollen and tofu; and they’re in those mysterious but ubiquitous ingredients like dextrose, isoflavones, and lecithin. With the FDA still hemming and hawing over how to handle GMOs, the onus truly is on us to sleuth out hidden GMOs if we want to avoid them.
Wherever you fall on the spectrum of skepticism to outrage, don’t you want to make that choice yourself?
Me, too. Which is why I’m urging you to watch and share this just-released video produced by Robert Kenner (of Food Inc. fame) with your friends; then add your name to list of the hundreds of thousands of folks who also want to make that choice—for themselves. All it takes is a label; we have the right to know, and we have the power to demand such labeling from our government.
Will you join Delicious Living and newhope360.com in supporting Just Label It and GMO labeling? Over 500,000 people like you—from moms and teachers to farmers and small business owners—have contacted the FDA about why labeling is important. Please take a moment to check out the Just Label It campaign, watch the video, and pass it on to your friends."
Radha Marcum
Editor-in-Chief, Delicious Living
Carlotta Mast
Editor-in-Chief,
newhope360.com
Wherever you fall on the spectrum of skepticism to outrage, don’t you want to make that choice yourself?
Me, too. Which is why I’m urging you to watch and share this just-released video produced by Robert Kenner (of Food Inc. fame) with your friends; then add your name to list of the hundreds of thousands of folks who also want to make that choice—for themselves. All it takes is a label; we have the right to know, and we have the power to demand such labeling from our government.
Will you join Delicious Living and newhope360.com in supporting Just Label It and GMO labeling? Over 500,000 people like you—from moms and teachers to farmers and small business owners—have contacted the FDA about why labeling is important. Please take a moment to check out the Just Label It campaign, watch the video, and pass it on to your friends."
Radha Marcum
Editor-in-Chief, Delicious Living
Carlotta Mast
Editor-in-Chief,
newhope360.com
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Against The Grain Gourmet
Don't forget to come into Lingonberries Market and stock up on
Against the Grain Baguettes and Pizza, they are delicious!
Against the Grain Baguettes and Pizza, they are delicious!
