"Gluten-free" Domino's Debacle and My Two Cents

In case you missed it, last week Domino's announced they are now serving a gluten-free pizza with support from the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. This all sounded really great to those who were looking for a fast-food pizza solution, until you read further. On the NFCA website, they clearly state "NFCA supports the availability of gluten-free crust at Domino's but CANNOT recommend the pizza for customers with celiac disease." The NFCA also gave Domino's an Amber Designation which just made this whole pizza debacle even more confusing. (This level requires ingredient verification and basic training of wait staff and managers. Kitchen practices may vary with this designation, level one of the tier system, meaning those with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity should ask questions and exercise judgment when dining at an establishment with an Amber Designation. Domino's has earned this designation.)

When the Twitterverse, Facebook, and blogosphere read these official statements all hell broke loose! Bloggers started bashing the NFCA for backing a product that is not safe for Celiacs. They asked how the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness could put their name on a press release for such an unsafe product. A fake Twitter account using Alice Bast's name popped up and started posting very offensive comments. It really was a public relations nightmare for the NFCA.

I tried to stay out of this mess because I would personally NEVER eat at one of these fast-food restaurants for fear of eating gluten. But I can no longer ignore this topic. I just have so many thoughts about this latest issue that goes way beyond gluten-free pizza. I think that the various gluten-free national organizations and research centers putting out conflicting reports, personal opinions, and "official statements" just goes to show you the major flaws in our gluten-free "community." How are we supposed to make advancements in gluten-free research and awareness if we all working against each other? Why do new not-for-profits pop up on a regular basis instead of groups banding together to make a bigger and more powerful group voice? Why do gluten-free bloggers regularly and publicly snub one another rather than try to work together for the greater good? Is anyone really part of this gluten-free community for anything but money any more????

But I digress. This is about gluten-free pizza and all of the opinions... I mean official statements about this gluten-free food. Right? Ignoring the fact that 4 of the 6 groups below are "not for profit" and are working towards a Celiac "solution" I put together a list of statements that I found on the internet regarding the NFCA and Domino's serving gluten-free pizza:

National Foundation for Celiac Awareness founder Alice Bast: "NFCA does NOT certify or approve this [gluten-free] pizza for those with celiac disease. NFCA did not help Domino's develop the Gluten Free Crust. Instead, we were brought in to educate the company about the risks associated with their preparation of the pizza."

Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland: "As an international celiac research center with expertise in gluten-related disorders, we believe that individuals who have been diagnosed with a gluten-related disorder should NOT consume this product."

Gluten Intolerance Group of North America's Cynthia Kupper, RD, GIG Executive: "I believe it would have been better for NFCA to tell Dominos that the cross contamination of the gluten free crust is too great and that NFCA cannot endorse such a product as gluten free. Why would NFCA work to raise awareness of cross contamination by endorsing a cross-contaminated product? "

1in133.org: "In the wake of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness' endorsement of Domino's new "Gluten-Free Pizza" (that is NOT suitable for those who need to eat gluten-free), we here at 1in133 have been working hard behind the scenes to force the retraction of NFCA's Amber Designation."

Updated: Looks like the people from 1in133.org started an online petition called Ditch Amber, in reference to the NFCA Amber designation of restaurants.

Celiac Sprue Association: "Per CSA's conversation with Domino's health & wellness project manager - This product will be prepared with the same ingredients, same screens (pans), utensils, and cutters as their primary pizzas. This product is not intended for individuals with celiac disease."

Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Cynthia Beckman, Director of Development: "Recently ABC News had a piece on Domino's Pizza presenting a supposedly gluten-free item. This is not a product suitable for those with celiac disease and highlights the need for strict regulation of gluten-free foods. Apparently, Domino's Pizza received advice from the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) on how to present this product. This also highlights the need for regulation at a government level rather than the food industry turning to lay groups. During this presentation, Dr. Peter Green was highlighted discussing the limitations of a gluten-free diet. This piece was a segment from an interview taken one year earlier and not related to discussion of the current "gluten-free" pizza issue." (updated 5/15/12)

The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center: "If they are cooking gluten-free dough on the same surface as regular dough, then the likelihood of contamination is high." (unofficial but on their Facebook page)

Thoughts? Please leave your comments below. 

NFCA to Launch First Joint Gluten-Free Certification Program Endorsed in US and Canada

Exciting news came through the gluten-free news wire yesterday. Read on for more information. 

National Foundation for Celiac Awareness Forms North American Partnership to Launch First Joint Gluten-Free Certification Program Endorsed in US and Canada | NFCA

The Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP) and the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) are pleased to announce their alliance. NFCA’s certification trademark provides customers with a trusted and easily identifiable source of safe gluten-free products.

Ambler, Pa. (July 16, 2013) - The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), a non-profit organization serving individuals with celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders, has formed an alliance with the Gluten-Free Certification Program, developed by Canadian Celiac Association (CCA), to launch the first gluten-free certification program endorsed in the US and Canada by leading celiac disease organizations in North America.

“The GFCP alliance means consumers with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity will have more choices, greater assurance and an easier way to identify gluten-free products that are trusted and safe,” said Alice Bast, President of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. “The GFCP has already achieved great success in Canada, and we are eager to expand its benefits to our community here in the US.”

The Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP) will provide consumer guidance and protection by differentiating certified products from the increasing clutter of gluten-free claims in the marketplace. The GFCP requires annual certification audits conducted by independent ISO accredited auditing companies, which ensure that certified products meet the industry’s most stringent gluten-free food safety requirements in the US and Canada. This third party relationship is a critical and defining part of the GFCP, as it eliminates any conflict of interest between the manufacturer’s relationship with the program, its certifying bodies and/or the NFCA.

Gluten-free consumers can now shop with confidence by looking for the trusted NFCA certification trademark on product packages.

“We at the GFCP are very excited about our partnership with the NFCA. By combining the endorsement of the NFCA and their strong industry relationships, together with the technical strengths of our program, I am confident we will be able to deliver a comprehensive value proposition that is yet to be seen in the US marketplace,” said Paul Valder, President of the Gluten-Free Certification Program.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects an estimated 1 in 133 Americans. Eighty-three percent of people with celiac disease are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. The disease can cause debilitating symptoms and, if left untreated, lead to life-threatening health conditions. There is no cure, but celiac disease can be treated with a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet.

NFCA advocates on behalf of the millions of Americans suffering from celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders who are frustrated by the uncertainty of identifying gluten-free products that are essential to their well-being.

“NFCA shares the CCA’s mission to protect consumers with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity and will lend a strong voice to the call for safety and accountability as demonstrated by GFCP standards,” said Peter Taylor, Executive Director of the Canadian Celiac Association. “We embrace their participation in this important cross-border commitment."

To learn more about the NFCA endorsed Gluten-Free Certification Program, visit http://www.gf-cert.org.

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About the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that drives diagnoses of celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders and improves the quality of life for those on a lifelong gluten-free diet. For more information visitwww.CeliacCentral.org.

About the Gluten-Free Certification Program
The Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP) was developed so consumers can shop with confidence by selecting those safe, reliable and gluten-free products displaying the GFCP trademark and is endorsed by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness and the Canadian Celiac Association.

The GFCP is a voluntary certification program designed to help brand owners differentiate their glutenfree products from the increasing clutter of gluten-free claims in the market place, by displaying the GFCP trademark. Based on a robust third-party audit certification process at the manufacturing facility, the GFCP verifies the ability to regularly meet stringent requirements, when managing gluten as part of their food safety programs.

Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery Launches Spread the Bread Program

You all know I am a huge fan of both Rudi's and NFCA, so this press release is really exciting to me.


Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery Launches Spread the Bread Program to Benefit the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness

National coupon program supports celiac disease education for physicians through NFCA’s Continuing Medical Education program

Boulder, Colo. – Jan. 4, 2010 – Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery is making life brighter for families that suffer from celiac disease and gluten intolerance by giving them another way to enjoy bread again through its new line of gluten-free breads. As part of its commitment to giving back to the communities it serves, Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery announced today it is partnering with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) to increase education and diagnosis of celiac disease through a national coupon program, Spread the Bread.

Through Spread the Bread, Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery is proudly supporting the NFCA’s efforts to educate physicians on the diagnosis of celiac disease through its Continuing Medical Education (CME) program. NFCA teamed up with top celiac doctors nationwide to create a program that provides education for primary care physicians focused on celiac disease with the goal of improving diagnosis and management of the disease. For full accreditation information, please visit: www.CeliacCMECentral.com.

“Every year, millions of people suffer unnecessarily as a result of the lack of diagnosis of celiac disease,” said Alice Bast, Founder and President of NFCA. “Our mission is to decrease the amount of time it takes for someone to get diagnosed, improve quality of life, and with the support of companies like Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery, we can better reach that goal.”

To visit the Spread the Bread site, visit: http://www.rudisglutenfree.com/spread-the-bread-coupon/

For every $1 off coupon downloaded for a loaf of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bread, Rudi’s will donate a dollar to support the NFCA’s efforts to better educate physicians in the diagnosis of celiac disease, up to $20,000. Coupons are available now on Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery’s website and Facebook page, and will remain available through February, or until the goal is reached.

“We created Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery so people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance can once again take pleasure in eating tasty and healthy breads,” said Doug Radi, vice president of marketing for Rudi’s Organic Bakery. “In addition to creating great-tasting gluten-free breads, we’re also committed to raising awareness and furthering education about celiac disease through partnerships with organizations like NFCA. The Continuing Medical Education program’s goal to teach doctors to diagnose celiac disease will greatly impact the gluten-free community.”

There are an estimated three million people in the U.S. suffering from celiac disease – that’s one in 133– yet less than 200,000 are diagnosed. Through partnerships with gluten-free organizations like NFCA, Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery hopes to elevate the level of education and awareness on celiac disease and gluten-intolerance, as well as the gluten-free diet, through local and national initiatives that drive hope for a better, brighter future, like the Spread the Bread program.

Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery breads are available nationally at natural foods stores and select mainstream supermarkets. For more information, visit http://www.rudisglutenfree.com.

About Rudi’s Organic Bakery, Inc.
Rudi’s Organic Bakery, Inc., founded and headquartered in Boulder, Colo., is the only nationally available brand offering a full line of certified organic bread and baked goods. Rudi’s Organic Bakery has a long history of baking bread a better and brighter way, by using simple organic ingredients that contain no artificial ingredients, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup or trans-fat. Since 2005, Rudi’s Organic has been a part of Charter Baking Company, Inc., a portfolio company of Charterhouse Group, Inc. Rudi’s Organic is a premier organic brand with distribution throughout the U.S. in both natural foods stores and mainstream supermarkets. Founded in 1976, Rudi’s Organic offers small batch organic artisan breads, sliced sandwich breads, wide pan sandwich breads, hamburger and hot dog buns, wraps and a popular line of organic spelt breads, buns and tortillas. In July 2010, Rudi’s Organic Bakery launched a new line of natural gluten-free products under the Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery brand. For more information about Rudi’s Organic Bakery, visit www.rudisbakery.com.

About the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of celiac in order to gain prompt and accurate diagnosis for those suffering, supporting the health and wellbeing of those with the disease, and facilitating research that will better understand the disorder and find a cure. Visit www.celiaccentral.org for information.

NFCA Launches New Online Educational Video Series

Celiac Disease & Gluten-free Diet Video Series Now Available on CeliacCentral.org.

Ambler, PA, December 22, 2010 (PR.com)-- The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is proud to unveil a new educational video series on the subject of celiac disease and its only known treatment, a gluten-free diet.

Available on both NFCA’s website (CeliacCentral.org) and Monkeysee.com, this online resource seeks to educate consumers about this autoimmune digestive disorder that affects 3 million Americans, as well as provide helpful information and support for the celiac community.

Series Topics Include:

• Understanding Celiac Disease
• Recognizing Signs & Symptoms
• Diagnosing Celiac Disease
• The Gluten-free Diet
• Celiac Disease Research: What’s On The Horizon

“We are thrilled to announce the latest addition to CeliacCentral.org,” said NFCA President and Founder Alice Bast, “NFCA strives to provide unique, informative and entertaining multimedia resources through our website and we remain committed to raising awareness through a variety of media channels.”

The five part series, created and produced in partnership with Knowlera Media, features Alice Bast, NFCA Founder and President, Gerald Mullin, MD, Director of Integrative GI Nutrition Services at John’s Hopkins University, as well as Bethesda, MD native Robin Rosenblum and her son Jacob, who suffers from celiac disease.

“These expert and patient testimonials provide a unique array of perspectives and represent many important groups within the celiac disease community,” said Bast.

NFCA’s website offers the latest news and free, comprehensive support materials for celiac patients, their families and healthcare providers including recipes, videos, webinars and blogs to promote quality of life without compromise.

1 in every 100 Americans suffers from celiac disease, a condition triggered by the protein gluten found in wheat, barley and rye. Cases of celiac have increased four fold since the 1950’s, yet 90% of those who have it live undiagnosed. Currently, the only known treatment for celiac disease is a lifelong gluten-free diet.

For additional information or to watch NFCA’s Celiac Disease & The Gluten-free Diet educational video series, visit CeliacCentral.org.

About the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness:
The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of celiac in order to gain prompt and accurate diagnosis for those suffering, supporting the health and wellbeing of those with the disease, and facilitating research that will better understand the disorder and find a cure. Visit www.celiaccentral.org for information.

About Knowlera Media:
Knowlera Media is the leading creator of professional-quality, lifestyle-focused video content for distribution via Web and broadcast television. These professionally produced, expert-driven videos are created in collaboration with world-class experts across the US, with each expert providing advice and demonstrations in deep detail.

To date, Knowlera has created more than 11,000 professional videos, all shot in high definition and presented to audiences numbering the tens of millions. Their videos are used in television programming, broadcast news, on the popular destination site MonkeySee.com, and a syndication network of hundreds of sites across the web.

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Contact Information
National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
Whitney Ehret
215-325-1306 x 103
whitney@ celiaccentral.org
www.celiaccentral.org

Gluten-Free State of the Union

Tomorrow, the NFCA will kick off Celiac Awareness Month with a live hour-long broadcast featuring gluten-free experts Alessio Fasano, MD, Stefano Guandalini, MD, and Cynthia Kupper, RD, CD. Moderated by Alice Bast, NFCA Founder and President, the panelists will provide a “State of the Union” on celiac disease and the new kid on the block, non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

With a special focus on patient-provider communication, the panelists will explore the following:

• Defining Celiac Disease & Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
• Latest in Gluten-Related Research
• Nutritional Management & Support

Patients and providers alike will benefit from this lively 60-minute discussion!

When: Thursday, May 3, 2012

Time: 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT

How to Register:

This event will be streamed on Vokle, a platform that allows us to interact with you during the broadcast.

1. Visit CeliacCentral - NFCA on Vokle: http://bit.ly/GRQGUh

2. Select Follow at the right hand side of your screen.

In order to receive communication from NFCA about this special event, you must be a follower of CeliacCentral-NFCA on Vokle. Once you're a follower, we'll be able to send you a reminder when it gets close to the event. You can also bookmark the event page for easy access at the start time.

3. You will be prompted to Sign In or Register for Vokle. You can also Login with Twitter orLogin with Facebook instead of registering.

4. Once registered and logged in, make sure you're following CeliacCentral - NFCA, then select the event "State of the Union: A Live Chat with Gluten-Related Disorders Experts."

5. On the event page, select Click to RSVP at the lower lefthand side of your screen.

 

 

 

6. That's it! Keep an eye out for an email reminder about the event, or simply go to the event page at the start time: 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT on May 3.

Pleased to Tweet You: Gluten-Free Fun

Last week, I was honored to be featured in the NFCA's Celiac Central March Newsletter. They have a relatively new featured called "Pleased to Tweet You" which features a prominent gluten-free "Tweeter". For those of you unfamiliar with the social networking site Twitter, a "Tweeter" is someone that posts regularly on the website via "tweets" which are brief 140-character conversations.

I was very late to the Twitter game and only joined at the end of September 2010 after being convinced by Dan of Renegade Kitchen and Jill of Glow Gluten-Free that this was THE tool to use on the Internet. They were 100% correct. In only one month of using Twitter, my blog readership jumped by more than 50% and my Facebook fan page nearly doubled in size. Clearly I had a been missing out on an entire gluten-free audience that I never knew about before joining Twitter.

Since September, I have connected with some really amazing gluten-free people and companies. I even attended the awesome Food Fete event last week that I had no clue about before reading a post on Twitter. For those of you bloggers or readers not on Twitter, I suggest you join today. I was afraid to get sucked into another social media website, but this is really an amazing and powerful tool. There are lots of symbols and abbreviations like @, #, and #FF that take some time getting used to, but you will quickly get the hang of it. Hopefully you will realize, like I did, that there is a wealth of information that can be expressed in 140 characters or less.

Here is my "Pleased to Tweet You" interview that I did with Cheryl of the NFCA last week. You can also find it on the NFCA's Celiac Central March Newsletter page.

Gluten-Free Fun on Twitter

Pleased to Tweet You

Each month, "Pleased to Tweet You" will highlight an individual who chatted with @CeliacAwareness on Twitter. If you’d like to be featured, follow @CeliacAwareness and say hello!

Name: Erin Smith

Find her on Twitter: @gfreefun

Tweeting since: September 2010

1. How long have you been gluten-free?
I was diagnosed with celiac disease as a toddler in 1981 so I am celebrating 30 years of being gluten-free this year!! I like to think of myself as a Celiac Disease veteran.

2. What do you like to tweet about (events, recipes, news articles, etc.)?
Every morning, I tweet about my daily blog postings on Gluten-Free Fun (which has been around since January 2007). Throughout the day, I tweet about interesting gluten-free articles and blogs I read, gluten-free events, and also general tweets to friends I have made on Twitter. As the lead organizer of the NYC Celiac Disease Meetup group, I also tweet about all of our upcoming events.

3. Why do you follow NFCA (@CeliacAwareness)?
Besides thinking the staff of NFCA are all awesome, I think the materials that the NFCA provides free-of-charge on their website are really outstanding and thorough. Whenever @CeliacAwarness posts a new tweet, I go directly to the website to learn more. I can spend hours on the NFCA website looking at the both educational and entertaining materials including gluten-free tax tips, fun videos like “Sex and the Celiac,” recent celiac disease news items, and upcoming events.

4. What's your favorite gluten-free dish?
I have so many gluten-free favorites, so this is a tough question. I love to cook but lately two of my favorites are Gluten-Free Bisquick Bacon Pie and homemade gluten-free lasagna. When I go out to eat in NYC, I love the Nutella galette at Bar Breton, the socca at Nizza NYC, and the nachos at Heartland Brewery Midtown West.

5. What's one thing you can do now that you couldn't do before going gluten-free?
Since I was diagnosed with celiac disease at such a young age, I don’t know anything else other than being gluten-free. Over the past few years, I have accepted my disease more than ever before and I am much more open to actually talking about having celiac disease. I used to be embarrassed and not want other people to know why I was avoiding eating in social settings, why I had different bread, etc. In the past 5 or 6 years, I have fully embraced my gluten-free lifestyle so I spend more time being an advocate for celiac disease rather than being embarrassed and hiding who I am.

6. In 140 characters or less, why should others join the gluten-free community on Twitter?
The gf community on Twitter is knowledgeable, passionate, and a great support system. I love "meeting" new people every day!

* Erin’s blog, Gluten-Free Fun, is in the running for Women’s Health "Blogs We Love" 2011. Learn how you can help her get noticed and spread the gluten-free message.

NFCA’s Blogger A Day: Gluten-Free Fun

During Celiac Awarness Month, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is featuring a Blogger a Day and today is my day! I am really excited to be featured today on the Bits and Bites blog. As you know, I have always been a fan of the NFCA. I have actually featured the NFCA on my blog 15 times since 2009, making it one of my hottest topics here on Gluten-Free Fun.

If you don't know already, the NFCA has an amazing website. There is a tremendous amount of free content that is available to everyone. There are printable guides, recipes, links to bloggers including this website, training for doctors, and so much more. If you aren't visiting the Celiac Central website on a regular basis, you are really missing out! Even as a veteran Celiac, there is always something I can learn from the NFCA website and the materials they have put together for the Celiac community.

Want to learn more about the NFCA including where they are headed in 2011? Visit their website today!

Athlete for Awareness Needs Your Help!

My friends at the NFCA asked me to spread the word about this exciting feat of athleticism. I am happy to support them and a fellow gluten-free blogger, Peter Bronski.


NFCA is excited to announce that for the 2nd year in a row, Athlete for Awareness Peter Bronski will participate in the Virgil Crest 50 Mile Ultra Challenge.

Last year, Peter incorporated a fundraising element into his ultra endurance marathon participation, and was able to raise $3,600 dollars for NFCA. This year, he hopes raise $5,000 for NFCA and is appealing to the celiac community for support! (To donate today, click here.)

On his blog - No Gluten, No Problem, he writes:

For those of you who've been around No Gluten, No Problem since at least last summer, you'll remember last year's Virgil Crest 50-Mile Ultra, which I ran to raise money for the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. The event is an ultramarathon distance trail running race. It covers 50 miles and 10,000 vertical feet of cumulative gain. That's roughly the equivalent of running back-to-back marathons, off-road, while climbing to the top of the Empire State Building 8 times.

In 2010 (there's a photo of me just after crossing the finish line) I took 7th place, in a time of 11 hours 43 minutes. Most importantly, with your support, we raised nearly $3,600 for the NFCA!

Well, now I'm at it again, and once again I'm asking for your help to support the NFCA. As with last year, I've created a FirstGiving fundraising page. Please take a moment to visit the site and consider making a donation in support of a great organization and great cause near and dear to the No Gluten, No Problem community.

There are just under 6 weeks to go until the race (which takes place on Saturday, September 24, 2011), so my fundraising window is more limited than last year!

In addition to the fundraising goal, I've also set some performance goals for myself. I'd like to repeat my Top Ten finish, and if I'm feeling really good on race day, I'd like to try and crack into the Top Five. And I'd like to finish in sub-11 hours. So, once again, please join me and support the NFCA. Give as much or as little as you can or want. Every little bit helps. 

- Pete

To support Peter in his campaign, donate online through his FirstGiving fundraising page:
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/peter-bronski/2ndannualgluten-freevirgilcrest50mileultra

And, to read more about Peter’s participation in the Virgil Crest 50 Mile Ultra, click here:
http://noglutennoproblem.blogspot.com/2011/08/2nd-annual-gluten-free-ultramarathon.html

NFCA Appetite for Awareness 2010

On Sunday, October 24, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness hosted their Appetite for Awareness event. In a new location for 2010, the event was held in the Philadelphia Navy Yard right on the Delaware River. As soon as you pulled up to this event, you knew that you were about to enter something special. Attendees were greeted with fun signs encouraging you to "go ahead and eat it" and to "Have your cake and eat it too." There were hundreds of people patiently waiting to enter to event to get their gluten-free groove on. What a way to start the day!

When you walked into the building, you were immediately greeted by the cheery NFCA volunteers and staff and given an empty reusable bag courtesy of Wegman's. From there, your gluten-free dream day could now begin. Attendees had the choice of turning left and sampling restaurant's gluten-free meals and heading towards the Children's Pavilion or heading right and trying more restaurants, going to the gluten-free Biergarten, or trying samples from more gluten-free vendors than you could ever imagine. All of this in a building the size of an airplane hanger is really quite overwhelming, even to the most experienced Celiac.

The restaurant area was a good place to start since it was directly in front of you when you walked in. There were more than ten restaurants from around the Philadelphia area preparing gluten-free dishes to sample. Every table was manned by the Chef of that restaurant and usually accompanied by a medical professional. These dishes were not your average gluten-free samples, these were mini gourmet plates. Veal, duck truffles, tacos, lasagna, and lobster rolls were just a small portion of what was available to try. Restaurants included Bar Ferdinand, Buddakan, Butcher and Singer, Chifa, City Tavern, El Ray, Grandma's Grotto, Jack Kramer's Catering, Le Bec-Fin, Le Castagne, The Palm, Main Line Pizza, L'OCA, Pasta Pomodoro, Rouge, Terra, and Zahav. Right next to the restaurant area was a bar area serving soft drinks, Redbridge beer, wine and Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka. Gluten-free hors d'oeuvres and cocktails! What could be better?

After trying all of the restaurant samples, it was time to move on to the gluten-free vendors. Over 40 vendors were at at the Appetite for Awareness event. To have this many choices for so many "normal" foods was just amazing. There were desserts, crackers, juice, grilled cheese sandwiches, to-go packages, hoagies, frozen food, condiments, and even gluten-free soft pretzels. All you could do was walk from table to table in gluten-free bliss. The vendors were offering samples of many of their products and many were also selling their gluten-free goods at a discounted price. It was great to not only try the new gluten-free food, but to chat one-on-one with the gluten-free vendors. Many of the vendors started their companies because either the owner has Celiac Disease or one of their family members required a gluten-free diet. The love and dedication behind the gluten-free vendors was very inspiring. Vendors such as Glow Gluten Free Cookies and Tonya's Gluten-Free Kitchen both started with gluten-free family members and now are amazing products for gluten-free people to enjoy.

The day was not over after sampling from the restaurants and the vendors. In the Drexel Education Center, attendees could watch live chef demonstrations by Monica Glass, Chef Georges Perrier, and cookbook author Silvana Nardone. Or you could head in the other direction and visit the Children's Pavillion for face painting, a bouncy castle, or gluten-free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from Rudi's Gluten Free Bakery, and additional vendors or information booths.

The Appetite for Awareness by NFCA day was really more than anyone who is gluten-free and has Celiac Disease could ask for in an event. Being in a room of all of these wonderful gluten-free friends, family, vendors, restaurants, and medical professionals was really quite an amazing experience. All of the support and food made you feel quite normal for the day and hopeful for the gluten-free future. No one questioned your food choices, no one judged your additional allergies, everyone was smiling and praising the event. It really was a wonderful experience and the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness did a wonderful job executing a perfect Appetite for Awareness. Here's to 2011.

More pictures and blog postings to come!


About the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) from their website
The NFCA drives diagnosis of celiac disease, imporves quality-of-life for children and families adhering to a gluten-free diet and advances science by facilitating collaborations within the healthcare community.

NFCA is a leading resource for celiac information. NFCA's website offers free, comprehensive information and support materials for celiac patients, their families and health care providers (including a comprehensive Symptoms Checklist and a Getting Started Guide), accredited training for healthcare and food industry professionals and the latest news, recipes, videos and blogs to promote quality of life without compromise.

Webinar: Navigating the Gluten-Free Social Scene at College

Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT 

GREAT U Special: Navigating the Gluten-Free Social Scene at College

How can you stay gluten-free and still get the full college experience?  NFCA’s second Webinar in the special kid and teen series will identify how gluten-free college students can overcome any obstacle while away from home. An open discussion will provide attendees with tips on how to stay gluten-free in the dining hall, dating do’s and don’ts, preparing your “Celiac disease is…” elevator speech and more! Join NFCA as Rebecca Panzer, MA, RD, LDN and Sam Master, a third-year medical student living with celiac disease, lead a lively presentation aimed to answer the top concerns of gluten-free college students. Sponsored by Thai Kitchen, this Webinar is free of charge and the only requirement is a working Internet connection! Continuing Education Credit RDs and DTRs are able to participate in this live 60-minute webinar to obtain CE credits. NFCA will provide a certificate of completion for each webinar. Read more details about earning CE credit. Follow-Up Email NFCA will send an email containing links to the recording and additional resources to webinar registrants and attendees within 5 days after the livewebinar. To ensure that you receive this email, make sure that NFCA (National_Foundation_for_Celiac_A@mail.vresp.com) is on your allowed senders list. If you have unsubscribed from any NFCA emails, please register for the webinar with a new email address. Make sure your email address is spelled correctly when registering, as we will use this for our follow-up communications. Can't Attend?  A recording of each webinar will be posted along with the webinar slideswithin 72 hours after the live event ends. Download recorded webinars and slides: www.CeliacCentral.org/Webinars/Archive. Note: Webinar recordings are not eligible for CE credit. SIGN UP

www.CeliacCentral.org/webinars

Celiac Education Event in Cherry Hill, NJ

Next Wednesday (May 29), the NFCA is co-hosting an educational event in Cherry Hill, NJ. There is an impressive line-up of doctors from Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals speaking at this event as well as a registered dietitian and NFCA president Alice Bast. Pre-registration is required so don't delay! 

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals and the Katz JCC invite you to join them for a free educational event.  Featuring expert speakers, including NFCA Founder and President Alice Bast, this event is for anyone looking to learn more about celiac disease, the gluten-free diet and the latest in celiac disease research.  The day's events include: Advances in the Treatment of Celiac Disease – presented by Anthony J. Marino, Jr., MD, William H. Rorer Professor of Medicine and Director, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, and Director, Jefferson Celiac Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals Managing Your Gluten-Free Diet – nutrition-related tips from Emily B. Rubin, RD, Jefferson registered dietitian What’s New at the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness? – reported by Alice Bast, Founder and President, NFCA Gluten-Free Cooking Demonstration with Food Sampling – by Chef Pasquale Masters of Pasta Pomodoro, Voorhees, NJ, a participating restaurant in the NFCA’s GREAT Kitchens gluten-free industry initiative.  When: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 Where: Betty and Milton Katz Jewish Community Center               1301 Springdale Road               Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Registation is required!  To register, call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.

Celebrate Celiac Awareness Day

Tomorrow is Celiac Awareness Day. In 2010, a resolution was passed in the U. S. Senate, making September 13 National Celiac Disease Awareness Day.

How are you going to celebrate Celiac Awareness day?

Here is a list of ways to celebrate from the NFCA:

1. Share the Celiac Symptoms Checklist. Send the checklist to 10 friends. Odds are, at least one of them will have an “Aha!” moment and recognize the symptoms in a family member, neighbor or friend.

2. Play a role in research. The Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is looking for relatives of celiacs to test a new self-administered blood test. It’s your chance to finally convince your mother, brother, or another family member to take the test once and for all. (Update: Study has been filled. Thank you to all who signed up!)

3. Go for a run. Restoring health isn’t just about making the dietary switch to gluten-free; it’s also about embracing your new lease on life. I’ll be here when you get back.

4. Or, support a fellow celiac while he runs. On September 24, Athlete for Awareness Peter Bronski will run 50 miles and scale 10,000 feet for the 2nd year in a row – all to raise money for NFCA. Donate to help him reach his goal.

5. Tell your doctor “Sorry” isn’t good enough. How many doctor appointments did you waste complaining of symptoms before you finally got diagnosed? End the cycle of misdiagnosis once and for all: Print the Celiac CME postcard from our website and urge your doctor to take NFCA’s free course on celiac disease.

6. Expand your dining options. If you know a restaurant that needs gluten-free training, now’s the time to act. Print the GREAT Kitchens information sheet from our website and bring it to the restaurant. As an incentive, tell the manager how many friends and support group members are just waiting to find a new gluten-free hot spot.

7. Be a part of something big. Sign 1in133.org's Letter to the FDA regarding the proposed gluten-free labeling rule. It’s one way to tell the FDA to keep moving and stop stalling when it comes to gluten-free safety.

8. Have a party. Bake some gluten-free cupcakes. Put out a bowl for donations. Voila! Instant Cupcake Party Fundraiser. (It’s really that easy.)

9. Head to class. Ask your child’s teacher if you can have a special Celiac Awareness Day at school. Read a celiac disease children’s book, then take questions from the kids. If your child’s school allows it, bring in gluten-free snacks for everyone to try. While you’re there, encourage the cafeteria staff to get gluten-free training through NFCA’s GREAT Schools program.

10. Sharpen your cooking skills. You never stop learning, so take advantage of NFCA’s library of free gluten-free cooking videos. The videos not only have step-by-step instructions, but also give you helpful tips, like how to sneak veggies into a dessert.

11. Make a new friend. If you’re not on Facebook or Twitter yet, get moving! The staff and I have met tons of new people through social media, and there’s sure to be a lot of exciting chats and activities for Celiac Awareness Day.

12. Try something GREAT. NFCA’s GREAT Business Association members are huge supporters of the celiac and gluten-free community. Encourage their continued involvement by picking up one of their products. (Make sure to tweet about it!)

13. Prepare future advocates. We’ve made incredible progress, but it’s up to our kids to keep that going. Teach them the joy of volunteering and advocacy by helping them contribute to Kids Central. They can sign up for the Letter Writing Fundraiser, share a gluten-free recipe, or submit a product review for kids.

Thank You, NFCA

If you couldn't tell from a full week of blog postings dedicated to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness Appetite for Awareness event last Sunday, I had an excellent time. The restaurants and chefs, the vendors, the friendly faces, the location... it was really just such a great day.

When diagnosed almost thirty years ago, my parents had very limited resources and felt helpless at times. Here was their toddler daughter struggling with getting a diagnosis of anything and then getting slammed with the news of Celiac what?!?!

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness provides the resources that weren't readily available 30 years ago. Events such as the Appetite for Awareness event make those diagnosed with Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance, and other allergies realize that they are not alone in this world. There is an amazing support system being backed by organizations such as the NFCA for people diagnosed today to lean on.

I want to personally thank Alice Bast and her amazing team at the NFCA. Thank you for the invitation to the Appetite for Awareness and I hope to see you in 2011 if not before then.

Check out the NFCA recap: Appetite for Awareness: It's a Wrap

Here are my Gluten-Free Fun posts about the NFCA event:
NFCA Appetite for Awareness 2010
A Day with Rudi's Gluten Free Bakery
A4A10 Gluten-Free Fun Vendy Awards Part 1
A4A10 Gluten-Free Fun Vendy Awards Part 2

Back to School Webinar with the NFCA

In the past year, NFCA’s inboxes have been flooded with questions on how to address their children’s medical needs while remaining positive but with more vigor. NFCA’s annual back to school Webinar will return with a focus on providing parents of gluten-free children with the knowledge and material needed to address tough gluten-free issues with their children’s school administration.

Speaker: Gabriela Pacheco, RD, LD, SNS, School Nutrition Consultant

Sponsored by Mary's Gone Crackers, this webinar is free of charge. 

When: Thursday, August 23, 2012 Time: 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT

Where: Your computer

Watch and Win! Three winners will receive Mary’s Gone Crackers love Cookies and Pretzels. The entire Mary’s Gone Crackers line is 100% gluten free, vegan, organic, non-GMO, kosher and made with love! Winners will receive one bag of each Pretzel flavor and one box of each love Cookie flavor. There are four 5.5 oz. boxes of loveCookies available - Double Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Ginger Snap and “N’Oatmeal” Raisin (No Oats!) and three 7.5 oz. bags of Pretzels available - Sea Salt, Chipotle Tomato and Curry.

You must register for this event here: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/227105630

Note: The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) provides information on gluten-free events as a service to the community. Please note that NFCA cannot assure the event participant or restaurant patron of the gluten-free practices or knowledge of the restaurants cited if they have not completed NFCA’s GREAT Kitchens program, which provides accredited gluten-free training to restaurants and other foodservice providers. Please call the venue directly to learn more about their preparation processes.

The webinar will be available at http://www.celiaccentral.org/webinars/archive/ 

Note: A recording of each Webinar will be posted along with the Webinar slides within 72 hours after the live Webinar ends. To download recorded Webinars and slides, visit the Archived Webinars page.

 Please note, you MUST pre-register for this event in order to gain access to the webinar. The event does not take place on this page. Here is the link for registration: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/227105630

Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour Coming to NYC Today and Tomorrow

New York City is the first stop on the NFCA Gluten-Free Chef's Table tour. While I won't be at the inaugural lunch today, I will be at dinner tomorrow dining along side of the NFCA's Alice Bast and learning more from Chef Jehangir Mehta. I am so excited to learn more about this awareness tour and enjoy food from the Chef's Table!

According to the NFCA, "GREAT Kitchens has paired with nationally recognized executive chef and restaurateur, Chef Jehangir Mehta to launch the GREAT Kitchens Gluten-Free Chef’s Table Tour. The tour will feature exclusive gluten-free dining experiences from executive chefs in fine dining restaurants, gluten-free cooking demonstrations with local media and interactive educational experiences at partner universities."

The NYC dinner is on Wednesday, October 22nd will be at Chef Mehta's restaurant Metaphor and it is open to the public. I am excited to reconnect with Chef Mehta, I first met him at an NFCA event many years ago. It is great that he has been such an advocate of gluten-free safety in his restaurants over the past 6 years.

Please contact the restaurant directly to make your reservations! See you there!

Mehtaphor Restaurant
130 Duane Street
New York, NY 10013
212-542-9440
www.mehtaphornyc.com

To read more about the Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour, visit the NFCA website to see their press release.

Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour Kick-Off Dinner with Photos

Last night I was thrilled to be a part of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness GREAT Kitchens Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour. The first stop on the tour was in New York City. Alice Bast of the NFCA and Chef Jehangir Mehta were the gracious hosts at Chef Mehta's restaurant Metaphor in Tribeca. You may know Chef Mehta from The Next Iron Chef.

Me with Chef Mehta

Chef Mehta has been involved with the NFCA and the Celiac community for a very long time. When he spoke about ingredients, cross-contamination in a kitchen, and preparation of gluten-free food, it was obvious the chef knew what he was talking about. Chef Mehta acknowledged that being gluten-free is a lifestyle choice for some but in his kitchens he takes "everyone's gluten-free requests as a serious illness request." He also said "gluten doesn't die with fire" which I think is a great reminder of why the same pans and grills shouldn't be reused in the kitchen when preparing gluten-free food.

Me with Alice Bast of the NFCA

One of the highlights of the night was meeting other bloggers. In my section of the table, I was the only person with Celiac and the only gluten-free blogger. This gave me the opportunity to educate others and reiterate the important points made by Chef Mehta and Alice throughout the night. Of course, there were some doubters of the prevalence of Celiac but I tried to set them straight. I actually thought it was a very good, strategic move on behalf of the NFCA to invite non-gluten-free bloggers. The more people we bring into our community, the greater chance we have to educate others.

You can follow the GREAT Kitchens Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour on the NFCA Facebook and on Twitter at @CeliacAwareness and @jehangir_mehta or by tweeting #GFChefsTable or #GREATKitchens. The Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour will cover 9 more cities in the United States through the fall and into the spring of 2014.

Thank you Alice and Chef Mehta for an informative and delicious evening!

Shout out to my girls Ingrid and Bobbi who stealthily ate their dinner behind me the whole night and didn't say hello until the end. ha! I know your are reading this. :-)

Be the Face of Celiac Awareness!

Submit Your Photo to NFCA’s Celiac Mosaic

Whether you have celiac disease, are gluten intolerant or know someone who is, help the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness spread awareness by participating in NFCA’s mosaic.

In May, NFCA's Facebook page will feature a collage of photos submitted by the celiac and gluten-free community. The mosaic will put a face on gluten-free needs and bring supporters together in solidarity. The NFCA will encourage those who submit photos to tag themselves in the mosaic to show their pride and draw attention to the cause.

They are starting to collect photos now so the collage will be big and beautiful by May 1st. To join the effort, email your picture to photos@celiaccentral.org today. Please send your photo as a jpeg attachment.

Gluten-Free Menu Planning: Budget-Friendly Tips

• Announcing NFCA's monthly Webinar, "Gluten-Free Menu Planning: Budget-Friendly Tips," on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern/5:30 p.m. Pacific.

  REGISTER TODAY: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/630518254
  
  Sponsored by Frito Lay and Cabot Creamery, this Webinar is free of charge and the only requirement is a working Internet connection!
  
  You asked and we’re answering! One of the most popular requests for an NFCA Webinar is how to maintain a healthy gluten-free diet while not breaking the bank. Join NFCA during Celiac Awareness Month as Kathleen Reale of BeFreeForMe.com shares money-savvy grocery tips and provides a list of go-to healthy gluten-free recipes.
  
  CE Credit: RDs and DTRs are able to participate in this live 60-minute event to obtain CE credits regardless of this program's approval status as long as the webinar is professional in nature. NFCA provides a certificate of completion for each webinar. Attendees must complete the program evaluation in order to access the certificate. Program participants will receive a link to complete this evaluation 24 hours after the live broadcast through an email from GoToWebinar. Participants must complete the survey and download the certificate before the date of the next webinar. See webinar schedule: CeliacCentral.org/Webinars/Schedule.
  
  Can’t attend? A recording of each webinar will be posted along with the webinar slides within 72 hours after the live event ends. Download recorded webinars and slides: CeliacCentral.org/Webinars/Archive.

  
  

  REGISTER TODAY: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/630518254

Exciting News for Gluten-Free Fun!!

The NY Mets will honor the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) and R.O.C.K. Long Island with a Spirit Award in an on-field presentation before the start of the game on Friday night. I am beyond thrilled to announce that I will be a recipient of one of these Spirit Awards before the game! Join me at the game on Friday night and look for me on the jumbotron before the game!!! 

Um, have I mentioned I am excited?!?!

Celiac Disease Awareness Night

Friday, May 27 @ 7:10 p.m.

One in 100 Americans have Celiac Disease but 95% don't know they have the disease. Celiac Awareness Night at Citi Field will benefit R.O.C.K. Long Island, who offer free support to parents, families and friends of kids on the gluten-free diet for any reason, and the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) offering educational programs for the general public, healthcare professionals and the gluten-free industry.

• Show your support while enjoying a Mets game at Citi Field.
• Sit together with fellow members, friends and family in our Left Field Landing & Promenade Reserved seating.
• All participants will receive a Mets Ticket Holder and Lanyard (with advance purchase through this offer).
• A portion of each ticket purchased through your promo code (CELIAC) will directly benefit R.O.C.K. Long Island and the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA)!

To buy your tickets visit: www.mets.com/celiac