Traveling in the USA?
Would you like to know where 100% gluten free restaurants and bakeries are by state?
Go to 100% GF Restaurants/Bakeries Here.
Taking in an Indian’s game at Progressive Field?
Head for the concession stand behind section 163.
Here is the link.
Need to find gluten free ice cream brands?
Go to GF Ice Cream Brands Here.
Looking for GF Hot Dog Brands?
Go to GF Hot Dogs Here.
What gluten free summer tips can you share?
Happy summer!
We received a request from an organization looking to place an exchange student with celiac disease in a US home. If you can help, please contact them using the information below. We have no additional information on this so please contact them directly with questions.
World Heritage International Student Exchange Program is currently placing our high school international exchange students who are scheduled to arrive in August/September with host families across the U.S. In this group of extraordinary students is a young lady from Spain named Maria. Maria has celiac disease. She is used to cooking her own gluten-free food, but of course it would be much easier for Maria if she could live with a family who follows the same type of diet. We would love to place Maria with a wonderful family who understands her dietary needs and can fully support her during her exchange program.
Anyone who is interested in learning more about our program and how they can host Maria for the 2015-16 school year can contact me at 855-967-5399 or email me at kristi@world-heritage.org. You can also check us out at www.world-heritage.org. Thank you for your help!
Kristi Habila
World Heritage Coordinator
Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky
A WORLD OF UNDERSTANDING THROUGH CROSS CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
World Heritage’s top priority is keeping our students safe. The listing below, with cartoon images, is intended to give you an impression of our students, while providing for their security. Full student profiles, with photos, are available to prospective host families during the application process. Please go to www.whhosts.com for additional information on selecting the student who will become a member of your family. Thank you for your commitment to student safety while you help make a dream come true!
Maria (15)
Female, SPAIN
Languages: Spanish, English, French
Siblings: None
Mother: Housewife
Father: Railway worker
Religion: Christian
Interests: skiing, basketball, swimming, running, baseball, sailing, music, celiac
Letter to my Host Family:
An active extrovert who is always smiling…that’s how I describe myself. I’m 15 years old and live in the northwest of Spain with my parents and grandparents. I enjoy doing things with my parents. My dad and I sometimes run together and then go to the pool to relax. Or my mom and I will watch a film. I have a poodle named Otto who I love to spend time with. I love sports and try to participate in sports whenever I can. I also spend a lot of time with my friends. We do things like playing games, going to the mall, going to the cinema or going to the park. I love to cook but since I can’t eat gluten I make everything gluten-free. I always make brownies for my friends and family! I said I like sports. In the winter my family goes skiing. In the summer I sail and go fishing with my grandma. I also enjoy basketball, baseball and swimming. Music is also something I enjoy. I took piano lessons for 6 years and only stopped beca! use I no longer had time for it with my studies. I don’t have any brothers or sisters but I enjoy children and often babysit for my neighbors. After high school I would like to study medicine and become either a surgeon or a pediatrician. I know my year in the USA will be difficult at first, but I am very excited about going. The opportunity will make me independent, expose me to more cultures and allow me to meet many different friends. I will try hard to adapt and fit in. Thank you for your hospitality and I hope you are going to be happy with me!
Four members of our steering committee will be representing our group in Prague, capitol of the Czech Republic, at the International Celiac Symposium. We wish Diane, MaryLou, Judy, and Anne safe traveling and hope they will share what they learned when they return! Much Good Luck!
Since the late 1960’s, researchers, physicians, and medical professionals worldwide have hosted an International Celiac Symposium, and have met to exchange their research. The interested countries were primarily the United Kingdom, Scandinavian countries, and Italy. The USA hosted its first celiac symposium 30 years later in 2000. We have been “late to the game” but have caught up as hosts with the last symposium held in Chicago in 2013.
Who will be speaking from the USA?
Dr. Fasano (Boston), Dr. Guandalini and 3 colleagues (Chicago), Dr. Murray (Mayo Clinic), & Dr. Ben Lebwohl (NY) will speak, representing American celiac research.
Why have a symposium?
“Coeliac disease, even more than 60 years after the invention of jejunal biopsy and decades after the discovery of the sensitive serologic tests, remains very often undiagnosed, underestimated and poorly understood. The issue is becoming even more obscure by a rapid change in clinical presentation. The typical picture of steatorrhea has often been replaced by hidden and confusing extra-intestinal manifestations. Questions will be raised and challenged by an exquisite spectrum of world renowned experts and young investigators. The meeting will uniquely reflect joint interests and needs of scientists, clinicians, patients, and nutritionists. It will also attract drug producers, health care providers and organizers because screening and diet promotion are important tools of the disease management. We believe that Prague as usual will provide a friendly and functional background to the congress with a unique and inspiring atmosphere.” –per ICDS organizers 2015
Back in 2010, General Mills changed one ingredient in their Chex cereal line. Switching from malt to molasses, GM launched Rice Chex as gluten free (GF). Its success prompted the release of six more flavors.
Beginning in July of 2015, five Cheerios products will have the same great taste but will be going gluten free: Original, Honey Nut, Apple Cinnamon, Frosted, and Multi-Grain Cheerios. While Chex is made from rice and corn, Cheerios is made from oats, which is a controversial grain in the gluten free community.
Oats are controversial because they are contaminated by wheat when they are processed or transported.
Those who have celiac disease (CD) and gluten sensitivity (GS) are advised to consume only certified gluten free oats. Even then, a percentage of those with CD and GS still react against any oats. (Even certified GF oats should be carefully introduced, especially into the diet of someone newly diagnosed).
Chex instant hot oatmeal, made from gluten free WHOLE oats, was launched in 2014. There is only a limited supply of GF oats. To launch Cheerios which require a large quantity to be made into OAT FLOUR, General Mills decided to mechanically filter regular oats to eliminate cross contamination, rendering them gluten free.
General Mills is aware of the gluten free FDA labeling guidelines and are testing to ensure the standard of less than 20ppm is met. They have a great reputation as a responsible company.
While the gluten free/celiac community applauds General Mills for producing another mainstream GF cereal which costs less than some GF cereals and is more widely available, some early questions have arisen:
1. Why not a third party certification?
2. It is understood that the mechanical filtering is a competitive secret, specially developed by GM at great cost. If they can’t reveal it, why can’t they release more on the type of testing done, as well as the quantity of testing done?
3. Why can’t they use gluten free oats, developing a demand?
Of all the 5 GF Cheerios, Multi-Grain will go through the biggest reformulation. Its wheat and barley ingredients will be replaced with sorghum and millet.
What do you think about the new GF Cheerios?
Please comment!
A class action lawsuit against PF Chang’s alleges that extra charges on the restaurant’s gluten-free menu violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. The lawsuit claims that celiac disease is a disability, and it is unlawful for a restaurant to force customers to pay higher prices for gluten-free dishes. The lawsuit was filed in California and is estimated in the millions of dollars.
The Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) has issued a statement that doesn’t seem to support the lawsuit. Marilyn Geller, CEO of CDF, has this to say:
“The Celiac Disease Foundation recognizes that restaurants bear a financial burden for the employee training and other accommodations that are required to serve meals that are safe for those with celiac disease.”
Let us know what you think. Will this class action lawsuit hurt or help the gluten free community? Do you mind paying a bit more to eat out safely?
