O Canada!

July 1 is Canada Day

Just thought I'd offer a round-up of various items related to our neighbors north of the border....

At this week's Fancy Food Show in New York City, I enjoyed the gluten-free (and egg-free) butter crunch (sample at right) from Toronto's CocoMira.

Quebec microbrewery Les bières de la Nouvelle-France now advertises two gluten-free beers: Messagère pale ale and the new Messagère Red Ale. Judging from the website, it looks like the brewers expect distribution in the United States soon!

Thanks to Saskatchewan dietitian Shelley Case, I'd like to draw your attention to Health Canada's Celiac Disease: The Gluten Connection, a clear, concise, and recently produced overview of celiac disease. (For the inevitable United States comparison, click here to see materials produced as part of the Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign of the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).)

Here's Health Canada's Celiac Awareness Month 2009 statement (May 4) from Canadian Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq.

And here's a videotaped May 4, 2009 statement by Ontario politician Yasir Naqvi.



Source (1:29)

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The Gluten-Free NYC Boutique—putting the GF in GiFts!

HAPPY CELIAC AWARENESS MONTH!

Please, oh please, be aware that this month of May is one of two celiac awareness months!

I myself was made aware of this by a press release from the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) and Mary's Gone Crackers, which (as you may already be aware) has often provided its crackers at many area events.

The press release says

More than three million Americans are estimated to have Celiac Disease, yet 97 percent of people go undiagnosed. Those with Celiac Disease are unable to tolerate gluten, the common name for the natural proteins found in wheat, barley and rye.

Some common symptoms of Celiac Disease include:

* Recurring bloating, gas, or abdominal pain
* Chronic diarrhea or constipation or both
* Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
* Pale, foul-smelling stool
* Unexplained anemia
* Bone or joint pain
* Migraine headaches
* Behavior changes/depression/irritability
* Vitamin K Deficiency
* Fatigue, weakness or lack of energy
* Delayed growth or onset of puberty
* Failure to thrive (in infants)
* Missed menstrual periods
* Infertility – Male/Female
* Spontaneous miscarriages
* Canker sores inside the mouth
* Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel

Anyone who can identify with one of more of the symptoms listed may have Celiac Disease and should consult a doctor for more thorough testing, which typically starts with a blood test. In addition, anyone who has been diagnosed or has a family member who has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, Sjögren’s syndrome, Peripheral neuropathy, thyroid disease, Dermatitis Herpetiformis, or osteoporosis may also be at risk.

The number of Celiacs is in fact greater than those with Crohn’s Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease combined.

The CDF offers no less than 10 Ways to Raise Awareness. Use them wisely!

Full Disclosure: "Ask Me About Gluten" button designed by Debbie Glasserman Design for the Gluten-Free NYC Boutique

CELIACTION: CELIAC AWARENESS MONTH...PLUS FUNDING!

Quick: Which month is Celiac Awareness Month?

Beth Hillson--president of the American Celiac Disease Alliance (ACDA) and founder of The Gluten-Free Pantry--just issued the following call to action:

On February 16, 2007, Representative Nita Lowey introduced H.Con.Res. 70, which endorses May as Celiac Awareness Month, and calls for increased federal funding for celiac research.

Rep. Lowey was one of the lead sponsors of the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) which requires food manufacturers to list the top 8 allergens on their product labels. The law also required the FDA to set rules for using the term 'gluten-free' when labeling products.

The American Celiac Disease Alliance applauds Rep. Lowey for her continued efforts to raise awareness about celiac disease, and for her support of our community.

Ask your representative to cosponsor H.Con.Res. 70. Email them directly by going to the ACDA online advocacy site www.capwiz.com/celiac and entering your zip code under "Elected Officials." Your voice will make a difference.

Thank you!

Beth Hillson
President, American Celiac Disease Alliance