Springfield Celiacs

FDA Proposes New Standards for Gluten-free Food

Currently there is neither a regulatory definition of the term 'gluten free,' nor is there agreement among manufacturers or consumers as to what this term means," the agency said in a proposal posted on its Web site. 

Under the new rules, foods claiming to be "gluten-free" must not contain any type of wheat, rye, or barley, including hybrids. They also can't use any ingredient made from such grains without having the gluten removed first.

Foods that carry the claim, but fail to meet the definition "would be deemed misbranded," the FDA said. Those that are naturally free of gluten and carry the claim without saying all such foods are also gluten-free would be considered in violation.

I find that last bit rather silly.

Link to FDA Proposes New Standards for Gluten-free Food

McDonald's Fries

McDonald's says that new test concludes that their fries are gluten free.

Just when you thought the courts had seen enough lawsuits, along comes another one. McDonald's acknowledged in a nutritional statement last week that its fries contain wheat and milk ingredients.

The fast-food chain immediately came under attack by consumers who suffer from celiac disease, which is characterized by intolerance to the gluten found in wheat. However, McDonald's has since modified the information, announcing last Monday that new tests reveal its fries are actually "gluten and allergen free."

Link: Times Recorder - www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com - Zanesville, OH.

New Gluten Free Beer To Hit The Market

Craig Belser, of Lee's Summit, Missouri, is getting ready to market his sorghum malt beer. The first batch should be ready in May.

Belser's beer, called Bard's Tale, will be brewed in California and sold in 22 states, including Missouri."This is the ultimate in feel-good projects," Belser said. "To make money and make people happy, it's a Santa Claus project."

Link: TheKansasCityChannel.com - News - Mo. Man Makes Gluten-Free Beer.

GIG Statement Regarding McDonald's Fries

McDonald's recently caused a furor when they acknowledged that  wheat and milk derivatives are used in making their fries; at least three lawsuits have been filed since that disclosure.

The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) has issued a statement regarding McDonald's fries that says, in part:

The science and processing of refined oils does not allow residual proteins to be left in the oils at any level significant to be detected or cause an allergic reaction. The flavoring agent added to the oil during par-frying is possible suspect, however until information is provided on testing of the flavoring agent we cannot say if it is a problem or not. The flavoring company has stated to McDonald's that the flavoring has no allergenic proteins and since McDonald's policy is that the fryers used fry [sic] the French fries are dedicated and only used for potatoes, this would mean the fries are gluten-free. McDonald's is expected to make an updated statement about this situation in the very near future. We anticipate that it may include information about recent testing.

GIG has a link to the entire text here.

Scott Adams, founder of Celiac.com eats McDonald's fries and said in a recent interview:

"I'm not convinced that there is actual gluten in the fries."

...Adams, of Gardena, Calif., called the controversy "sad," because he said McDonald's has worked with the food allergy community for years. He's worried that lawsuits filed against McDonald's will have a chilling effect on other restaurant chains who might otherwise come forward with information.

"It could backfire on the celiac community," he said.

At the same time, Adams criticized McDonald's for creating their own controversy. "How could they overlook it?" he said.

Personally, I have to agree with Scott.  Everyone needs to take a deep breath and sort this thing out. We're only going to hurt ourselves if we make businesses unwilling to work with us.

An Extreme Reaction To Celiac Diagnosis

The Billings Gazette has an article on a little girl with celiac disease.

Upon diagnosis, her parents rolled up their sleeves and went to work:

...the couple worked with a dietician at the Children's Hospital in Denver - where Narkewicz is based - to develop a gluten-free diet for Ava. They bought all new pots and pans and cleaned out their cupboards to rid their house of anything containing the protein, and the whole family started on the new diet.

Holy cow! Maybe they just wanted new pots and pans, but things like this tend to freak-out the newbies. There is no reason to trash the old cookware;  soap and water works just fine.

Seven Diseases Doctors Miss

As if you didn't already know, Prevention magazine lists celiac disease as one of Seven Diseases Doctors Miss.

Hat Tip: Gluten-Free NYC

McDonald's Fries, Gluten Free Or Not?!

McDonald's used to say their fries were gluten free. No longer.

McDonald's had said until recently that its fries were free of gluten and milk or wheat allergens and safe to eat for those with dietary issues related to the consumption of dairy items. But the fast-food company quietly added "Contains wheat and milk ingredients" this month to the french fries listing on its Web site.

The company said the move came in response to new rules by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the packaged foods industry, including one requiring that the presence of common allergens such as milk, eggs, wheat, fish or peanuts be reported. As a restaurant operator, Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald's does not have to comply but is doing so voluntarily.

Link: News-Leader.com | Business.

Update: McDonald's nutritionist says "Technically, there are no allergens in there and those who have eaten the product should be able to continue to do so without incident. If someone is really sensitive, they need to be aware that this product at one point derived from wheat and dairy. ”

Thanks, I'll think I'll pass anyway.

Link: Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network

Web Site Competes To Win $7,000 For Celiac Charity

Search Engine Optimizers are having a a go to see who ends up with the number one ranking on Google for searchs of the phrase "V7ndotcom elursrebmem."

www.watching-paint-dry.com will donate all contest winnings directly to charity -- specifically, the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research (CFCR). And with a groundswell of interest, it just might win that $7,000 for Celiac Disease as countless web sites have taken notice and are already talking/linking to it a spontaneous grassroots effort to help out. In fact, this Press Release was handled by one cyberspace supporter who graciously volunteered (thank you "FrankB somewhere in the Canadian Rockies") to submit it.

Link: PRESS RELEASE Underdog Web Site Tries to Win $7,000 Google Search Engine Contest for Charity.

UCSD Hosting Symposium on Celiac Disease

The University of California, San Diego will be hosting a scientific symposium entitled "Genetic and Immune Mechanisms in Celiac Disease" on February 10th.

Geared for researchers, the symposium will include introductory remarks and an overview of the pathogenesis of celiac disease by Martin F. Kagnoff, M.D., professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at UCSD School of Medicine, and director of the Warren Research Center.

Link: Newswise | UCSD Research Center to Host Symposium on Celiac Disease.

Breast-feeding May Help Protect Against Celiac Disease

Research seems to indicate a correlation between breast-feeding  and a reduced incidence of celiac disease.

An association between increasing duration of breastfeeding and a decreased risk of celiac disease was seen in all of the studies except one small one.

The results of the analysis also demonstrated a 52 percent lower risk of celiac disease among people who were being breastfed at the time when gluten was introduced into their diet, compared with those who were not breast feeding at this time.

Researchers suggest that breastfeeding may help prevent celiac disease by limiting the amount of gluten a child ingests or by preventing gastrointestinal infections in early childhood.

Link: Health News Article | Reuters.com.