Gluten Free Raleigh

Fake Gluten Free Baker Paul Seelig Appeals 2011 Convictions

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:47:00 +0000

Remember the infamous fake Gluten Free Baker Paul Seelig? If not, get caught up here. This is the guy who started a fake Gluten Free bakery and then sold regular Gluten filled products as Gluten Free to dozens of folks (including Celiacs) throughout the Raleigh-Durham area back in the late 2009/early 2010 time frame. In April 2011, he was convicted and sentenced to 9-11 years in prison. He is currently spending his days at the Lumberton Correctional Institution until 5/14/2020.

For several reasons, he's decided to file for an appeal on his convictions (even though in court during his trial he pleaded guilty and stood there and asked for all of his victims to forgive him). His submitted Brief to the court is here. Arguments will be presented to the Court of Appeals on Thursday, November 13th, 2012 at 9:30am. If you have any interest in this case or were a previous victim, please consider attending this hearing.

North Carolina Court of Appeals
Thursday, November 15th at 9:30am
Court of Appeals Building
One West Morgan Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

Gluten Free Wine Dinner at Bella Monica - Sat 8/11 730p

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:49:00 +0000

Bella Monica Restaurant to Host Gluten-Free Wine Dinner

ONLY A FEW SPOTS REMAINING!!!

Date: Saturday August 11th, 2012
Time: 7:30pm
Location: 3121 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh, NC 27612

Come on out on Saturday August 11th for a night of gluten-free goodness at Bella Monica Restaurant! Hang out with the team from Delight Gluten-Free Magazine and enjoy a 4-course family-style wine tasting menu prepared by Chef Corbett Monica!

Dinner is $75/per person (inclusive of tax and gratuity) and includes assorted gluten-free bruschetta, caprese salad, portobello mushroom lasagne, lobster risotto, veal meatballs with fontina polenta and tiramisu.

Bella Monica Restaurant is located at 3121 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh, NC 27612

Raleigh Gluten/Allergen Free Expo - August 12 2:30pm

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 16:07:00 +0000

The Gluten/Allergen Free Expo of Raleigh, N.C. is being held on Sunday August 12, 2012 2:30 pm - 7:30 pm and will feature Expert Speakers in fields of Celiac Disease & Gluten/Allergen Free Living, a Gluten/Allergen Free Food & Services Vendor Hall & a Top Chef Demonstration Stage.

Click here to purchase tickets. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. Children 12 and under are free.
Click here for the event web site.

Location

Cobblestone Hall in historic downtown City Market 215 Wolfe Street, Suite 100 Raleigh, NC 27601

Notes
Special Appearance By Mrs. United States 2011, Shannon Ford, columnist for Delight Gluten Free and writer of an excellent blog about her Gluten Free/Paleo Diet & life www.contemporarycavegirl.com.

Bone Suckin Sauce is sponsoring this Grand Prize which is a catered Bar-B-Que for 50 people and valued at $3000! The Grand Prize will be won in the Raffle held on August 12. Must be present to win.

Current Vendor List
1-2-3 Gluten Free
Against The Grain Gourmet
Akea Life
Allergy Free Foods
Arbonne
Bakery On Main
Bella Monica Flatbread Co.
Bold Organics Pizza
Bone Suckin' Sauce
Camp Weekaneatit
Crunchmaster
Delight Gluten Free Magazine
Earth Family Foods
Earth Fare
Europa Sports
FAAN Walk for Food Allergy of the Triangle
Ginger Lemon Girl
Gluten Free Passport
Glutino
Happy Family Foods
Harmony Farms
Kinnikinnick
Kitchen Table Bakers
Lisanatti Foods
Martin's Curry Rice
Mrs. United States 2011, Shannon Ford
Namaste Foods
New Planet Beer
Omission Beer
Rudi's Gluten Free Bakery
Slatherin' Sauce
Spize Cafe
The Celiac Cakery
Triumph Dining
Udi's Gluten Free Foods
Whole Foods Zpizza

Reminder - Greater North Raleigh Celiac Support Group Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:34:00 +0000

Just a friendly reminder about this month's Greater North Raleigh Celiac Support Group meeting. The meeting is Thursday, May17th at 7pm at Rex Hospital, Private Dining Room located in the rear of the cafeteria.

Jim Eleczko - Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center - will be our guest speaker from 7:45 - 8:45, focusing on the use of acupuncture "to lessen the impact of some of the symptoms resulting from Celiac Disease."

We will not be meeting in October, due to a Rex Hospital scheduling conflict.

Please email Pat Berger to request more information about the group or if you are interested in attending this month's meeting.

You can also check out the Support Group's Yahoo Web page here.

Domino's to Offer Gluten Free Pizza (Celiacs Let Out Collective Groan)

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:46:00 +0000

Great news for Kim Kardashian (but not for anyone with actual Celiac).

Domino's is now offering a gluten-free pizza crust.
Click here for the Domino's GF crust FAQ (Caution - this pizza is not for people with Celiac Disease).

Press release below...welcome to the fad part of the GF diet Domino's. You are not the first and won't be the last. FYI, I'll still be a Celiac who needs a real (ingredients and cross contact) GF diet when you are gone. On a side note, I'm disappointed in the NFCA. Gluten Free should be really Gluten Free - it's confusing enough already. This is a joke.

Perhaps the single biggest if not most frustrating void for folks stuck on gluten-free diets is about to be finally filled: home-delivered pizza. Monday, Domino's, the world's largest delivery pizza chain, will announce plans to sell a pizza made with a gluten-free crust. It comes as some of the biggest foodmakers and food sellers — including Frito-Lay, Subway, Anheuser-Busch and P.F. Chang's — are jumping into the $6.2 billion market for people unable to consume products made with wheat, barley and rye.

"We are the first national pizza delivery chain to offer this," boasts Domino's CMO Russell Weiner, who notes that while the crust is certified gluten-free, the pizza is still prepared in ovens with pizzas that aren't gluten-free, so folks who are extra-sensitive need to be aware. The gluten-free pizza costs about $3 more. Most gluten-free products typically do cost more to make.

Until recently, gluten-free was mostly listed on the back of the package, but now, with 6% to 8% of the U.S. population on some some kind of gluten-free diet, it's increasingly listed on the front, and even called out in bold type. "It's become a selling point," says Alice Bast, president at the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, a group that raises awareness of Celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Bast says, "The number one request we get from the gluten-free consumer is for gluten-free pizza — and beer."

Article from USAToday.

CNN's Wolf Blitzer Talks Celiac Disease

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:43:00 +0000

CNN's Wolf Blitzer helps raise awareness of celiac disease in this very important video on celiac disease and the gluten-free diet! The segment features Dr. John Snyder of the Celiac Disease Program at Children's National Medical Center, Vanessa Weisbrod, Executive Editor of Delight Gluten-Free Magazine and Sarah Marx, a patient living with celiac disease. A huge thank you to the entire CNN team that helped make this video possible.

Hershey's New Gluten Free List

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:21:00 +0000

Check this out!

HERSHEY'S | Hershey's Brands Special Nutrition

Gluten Free Expo Comes to Raleigh on August 12, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:46:00 +0000

August 12th, 2012 ~ Raleigh, N.C. ~ The Cobblestone Hall ~ 2:30-6:30 pm

SAVE THE DATE!

Echo Event Solutions, in collaboration with National Support Groups, is proud to present a series of Gluten/Allergen Free Expos and Educational Events across several states. The Director of Coordination, Nikki Everett, has successfully managed the Charlotte Gluten/Allergen Free Expo and brought many Local and National vendors into the spotlight of the Charlotte, N.C. market. Building on that success, Nikki is taking the show on the road and Raleigh was picked as a expansion site for a 2012 event.

Vendor/Sponsor List so far...

PARTICIPANT SPONSOR ~ GFreeK.com GF Awards

Vendor ~ Bone Suckin' Sauce

Vendor ~ Udi's Gluten Free Foods

Vendor ~ Rudi's Gluten Free Bakery

Vendor ~ 1-2-3 Gluten Free

Vendor ~ Europa Sports (Nogii and NOW Bars)

Vendor ~ Bakery On Main

Vendor ~ Triumph Dining

Vendor ~ Glutino

Vendor ~ Kinnikinnick

For more information see -> gfvendorinfo.blogspot.com

Also, see the letter below.

-------------------------

Hello to Everyone,

I am writing to inform you of the exciting news that our company, Echo Event Solutions, has picked Raleigh, N.C. as a fantastic area to plan a large event for 2012!

I hope you are as excited as we are about having an event come to the Raleigh area. You may have heard of our events as I have planned the Charlotte Gluten/Allergen Free Expo for 3 years. If you have not been to that event nor have heard of me, this is our introduction to your community. The short version can be found by opening my web site links and attached files.

In 2008, we began the journey of getting my daughter diagnosed with celiac. She did not react very well to the prospect of having to quit eating most of the foods she loved and began to feel very isolated from friends, angry at gluten (the enemy) and anyone who ate gluten around her. So I decided to start a children's support group where they could be "normal" together and chartered R.O.C.K.(Raising Our Celiac Kids) Charlotte N.C. Chapter in Jan. 2009

I heard about large Gluten/Allergen Free Events across the country and thought it would be great to bring one to Charlotte. My goal was to research products that were superior in quality, so gluten/allergen free didn't have to taste inferior any more. After several successful events and a lot of awareness, the options are growing. However, there is still a lacking of availability in some locations or accessibility due to schedule of daily life.

Because of the Charlotte Expo, our support groups have been able to get the newest of allergen free products, information, and engaging educational classes from experts in living gluten/allergen free, like Dr. Fasano of the Center for Celiac Research, Mrs. United States Shannon Ford, Dr. Peter Osborne of Gluten Free Society, Melinda Dennis of Beth Israel Deaconess, and many more. Now, I want to share these events and our approach with your communities. However, I can't be successful at it without your support.

If you are interested in participating in a gluten/allergen free Expo in Raleigh, then please email me and we can discuss how you can help support us for this event. There will be no obligation for you to have this Expo except to volunteer your time if you want or else attend and pay a very nominal ticket fee of no more than $10. This low cost to you is how we are able to successfully do fundraisers for special interests of the community.

Our Community Fundraising Initiatives go to:
• We help your community by setting up an allergen free section in a local centralized food bank and will help your support group with a plan to keep it going after we are gone.
• We do fundraisers with raffles of baskets full of goodies to attendees for organizations like the Center For Celiac Research & Camp Weekaneatit in Georgia, a summer camp for children with celiac disease on a gluten free diet.
• Work with local businesses who develop gluten/allergen free options safely and give them a boost by offering discounted pricing to be involved, because we believe the best of gluten free starts at home.
• And more...

Please let me know if I can assist you with any questions and thank you for taking the time to read.

Nikki Everett
Director of Event Coordination
Charlotte Gluten/Allergen Free Expo
R.O.C.K.(Raising Our Celiac Kids) Charlotte Chapter
Gluten Free Seminars, LLC
ECHO Event Solutions

Kettle Cuisine's "Get One Give One" Facebook Promotion

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:25:00 +0000

Received the following email from the folks at Kettle Cuisine and thought I'd pass along to y'all.

As you know, here at Kettle Cuisine we are passionate about feeding people and ending hunger. This is why, during the month of March (which is National Nutrition Month and National Frozen Food Month), every fan who LIKES our Facebook page will GET a valuable coupon and we will GIVE a serving of soup to a person in need. Neat huh? Our lofty goal is to donate 10,000 cups of soup to people in need so any assistance you can provide is greatly appreciated!

If you haven't tried Kettle Cuisine's products, now is a great opportunity to help yourself (by getting a free coupon) and others in need! It's pretty simple, just hit the like button.

Raleigh Celiac Support Group Meeting - March 15th @ 7pm

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:17:00 +0000

North Raleigh Celiac Sprue Association Support Group

Support group meeting reminder, this Thursday, March 15th, Rex Hospital (Raleigh), Private Dining Room located in the rear of the cafeteria, 7:00PM - 9:00PM. On our agenda is Dave Gardner, Baker/Owner, Imagine That G-F, Inc., Morrisville, who will introduce us to his bakery and offer a "tasting."

Please contact Pat Berger for more information.

March is Gluten Free Pizza Month at ZPizza

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 15:53:00 +0000

I just received the following email from the owners of the Triangle zpizzas.

March is gluten-free month at zpizza. To celebrate, come in all month long and enjoy a delicious small gluten-free pizza for half off when you purchase a small pizza at regular price (of equal or greater value). Come in to any of our 3 locations (421 Fayetteville St, Downtown Raleigh. 96 Cornerstone Dr in Cary, or 9630 Falls of the Neuse Rd, North Raleigh).

Thanks for your positive feedback on our food, and to those of you that travel great distances to dine with us. Join us on Facebook and let us know where you are coming from. Someone will win free pizza! Thanks, Steve and Dan, zpizza.

www.zpizzatriangle.com

Whole Foods Bakehouse Focus Group

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:26:00 +0000

Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse in Morrisville, NC is seeking approximately 20 individuals to participate in a focus group as product tasters. Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse will supply free samples to the participants and in return, we ask for your feedback on our products.

Participants will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement and answer a few screening questions to qualify. If this sounds like something you are interested in, please contact us at: Glutenfree.bakehouse@wholefoods.com.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Chick-fil-A Introduces New Gluten Free Kid's Meal Today (& Giveaway)

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:43:00 +0000

Chick-fil-A Debuts One of America’s Most Nutritious Kid’s Meals (and it's Gluten Free)!

Keep reading for a giveaway from Chick-fil-a.

Chick-fil-A is one of the very few fast food restaurants that my family visits. I have safely had the grilled chicken salad and fries (be sure your restaurant has a dedicated fryer) without issue for several years. The problem though has been when I take my kids and they want chicken nuggets (not GF). It's pretty difficult to keep my salad GF while helping the kids with their breaded nuggets. We'll, seems like that problem is now solved.
Below is from the press release.

Starting today, Chick-fil-A is taking another step in continuing to address the issue of childhood obesity by debuting one of the nation's most nutritious kid's meals. In recent months, many fast food chains have updated their side options in an attempt to offer healthier children's menu items. Chick-fil-A instead is concentrating on making the entrée healthier by adding Grilled Chicken Nuggets as an alternative for children. The move marks the first time a national fast food chain has offered a grilled entrée as part of a children's menu. The chain also is enhancing its side choices, adding Buddy Fruits® Pure Blended Fruit To Go applesauce as a complement to the Fruit Cup option Chick-fil-A added to its menu in 2004. And, the chain is removing drinks with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from its children’s beverage line and promoting one-percent milk, 100-percent apple juice, its signature freshly squeezed lemonade and water as drink choices.

Additional information on Chick-fil-A's new Kid's Meal offerings: 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. Improved beverage options:

Drinks with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are being removed from the Kid’s Meal beverage choices. Children's drink choices now include one-percent milk, 100 percent apple juice and freshly squeezed lemonade (30 percent DV vitamin C).

Please leave a comment below about your favorite Gluten Free thing in Raleigh (can be a grocery store, restaurant, bakery, mostly inactive informational blog, support group, etc...). I'll pick 5 random winners so please leave your email address (or email me).

Click here for more information.

Is This Thing On....?

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:26:00 +0000

Obviously the posting has been a little light around here lately... my apologies. Multiple things are at play here. First off, my family has grown and being a parent is my primary duty during my free time. Secondly, I've now been Gluten Free and living with Celiac Disease for almost 4 years. You learn a lot in 4 years, Gluten Free life just becomes easier. Awareness (one of the goals of this blog) is at the highest level I've seen. More and more GF products are on the market and gasp... the FDA might actually decide what it means to put a GF label on products soon. It's good to be Gluten Free right now (if there is such a thing).

That being said, Gluten Free Raleigh can still be a place for getting information about being GF in this area. There is still a lot happening out there and the newly diagnosed need this information. I am in need of folks who are willing to put in some time and energy to keep it going though. You are already living the life, why not share?

If you have any interest, please email me - glutenfreeraleigh@gmail.com. Otherwise, you'll just be staring at old posts. This "job" is best suited for the newly diagnosed as you still are hungry (pun intended) for information on Gluten Free living.

Reminder - Greater North Raleigh Celiac Support Group Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:13:00 +0000

Just a friendly reminder about this month's Greater North Raleigh Celiac Support Group meeting. The meeting is Thursday, September 15th at 7pm at Rex Hospital, Private Dining Room located in the rear of the cafeteria.

Our agenda includes: (a) Rose Waring (Rosie's Plate) generously donated her cookbooks to our group. They will be available for you to peruse and select any in which you are interested. (A "sharing" plan may be needed.) (b) We have an offer to have "flu shots come to us" for our November meeting. Give this some thought. Medicare -no charge; Harris Teeter VIC card - $24.95. (c) "Tasting Samples" from "The Celiac Cakery."

We will not be meeting in October, due to a Rex Hospital scheduling conflict.

Please email Pat Berger to request more information about the group or if you are interested in attending this month's meeting.

You can also check out the Support Group's Yahoo Web page here.

Gluten Free Baking Class at Williams-Sonoma

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:47:00 +0000

Gluten-Free Baking Technique Class @ Williams Sonoma
August 28, 2011

We’ve partnered with BabyCakes, the award-winning New York bakery, for an introduction to gluten-free baking. We’ll demonstrate (and sample) some of their scrumptious recipes as we discuss the correct flours and other ingredients to use, plus techniques for making tender baked goods. Even if you can eat traditional baked treats, these makeovers will provide sweet inspiration. We’re pleased to offer complimentary technique classes at your local Williams-Sonoma store. Class sizes are limited. For specific times and more details, please see an associate.

There are 3 Raleigh area locations...
Triangle Town Center -(919) 792-2363
Crabtree Valley Mall - (919) 782-3145
Durham's Streets at Southpoint -(919) 484-1706

Smart Balance Aquires Glutino - Don't Mess With The Pretzels Please

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:54:00 +0000

Click here for a recent write-up from Forbes about the acquisition of Glutino Foods - maker of a wide variety of Gluten Free products - by Smart Balance. My favorite Glutino product would have to be their GF pretzels - yum yum. Hey Smart Balance - leave 'em alone please.

I'll let you read the entire article, but here are some interesting points I'd like to highlight...

Gluten Free market identified as a $2.5 Billion industry. Projections more than double that to exceed $5 Billion by 2015!
Glutino's Gluten Free product sales have steadily grown 30% per year.
Three million Americans are estimated to have Celiac Disease - we know this fact. The article goes on to say that analysts estimate another 40 million to suffer from non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance. Wow. Smart Balance, a company in the low-growth spreads business, apparently sees those 43 million American's as dollar signs. Cha-ching. Wall Street analysts now rate the stock (SMBL) a buy and predict a the price to double over the next 12 months. Better hit e-Trade quick.
Glutino has 2011 fiscal year earnings (ending March 31, 2011) of $54 million. That's almost 8 million bags of those $6.99 pretzels I spoke about earlier.

What are your thoughts? Are more of these small Gluten Free companies getting ready to be "consumed" by other food industry giants?

Click here for products currently offered by Smart Balance (all of which are Gluten Free). You'll find their buttery spread and peanut butter at my house.

Glutino products can be found here.

Raleigh's Moonlight Bakery Closes

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:37:00 +0000

Raleigh's Gluten Free market has suffered another loss as Moonlight Bakery has decided to close. Below is the message currently posted on their Web site. Back in March, Rosie's Plate also closed. I'd like to say thanks to Shanah who operated Moonlight since the fall of 2009.

We want to thank all of our loyal customers since the beginning.
Moonlight Bakery has decided to close it's doors due to the economic environment.
Remember to continue to share great Gluten-free foods.

Regards,
Moonlight Bakery, LLC Management

North Carolina State University Adds Gluten Free Dining Hall Options

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:15:00 +0000

Gluten free stations now available at Fountain Dining Hall

August 1, 2011 (Raleigh, NC) — Gluten free stations have now been added to Fountain Dining Hall at NC State University. Gluten free stations were added to provide students with celiac disease, wheat or gluten allergies safe, alternative options at each meal.

Fountain Dining Hall features two gluten free stations. Each station is labeled “Worry-Free Fare” and includes vanilla and chocolate soy milk, gluten free breads and muffins, and Rice Chex cereal. Students with celiac will have access to a toaster dedicated to gluten free bread only.

Gluten free entrees and sides are available at each meal in dining hall locations. To find gluten free options , check the Nutrition and Allergen Calculator in the online menu section of University Dining’s web site or view the allergen board located in each dining hall.

“By adding alternative gluten free options to our largest dining facility, Fountain Dining Hall, we can better meet the needs of our students with celiac disease, wheat allergies or gluten allergies,” said Lisa Eberhart, registered dietician for University Dining. “If students have questions or concerns about an allergy or intolerance, they can contact me directly.”

To learn more about University Dining, visit www.ncsudining.com.

If you feel you are suffering from a food allergy, please contact our registered dietitian, Lisa Eberhart, for an individual meeting. To make an appointment, call student Health at 919-515-7107 to schedule a free appointment. If you would like to speak with the dietitian call 919-513-5310, or email at lisa_eberhart@ncsu.edu.

List of menu items &amp;amp; common allergens can be found here http://www.ncsudining.com/dining/nutrition/nutrition_chart.html.

Sample Gluten Free Product List for C Store can be found here http://www.ncsudining.com/dining/docs/C%20Store%20Gluten%20Free%20Product%20List.pdf

University Dining is a division of Campus Enterprises, the lead organization for retail and hospitality for NC State University. To learn more about Campus Enterprises, go to www.ncsu.edu/campusenterprises.

FDA Reopens Comment Period on Proposed Gluten-Free Food Labeling Rule

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:44:00 +0000

FDA NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 2, 2011

Media Inquiries: Siobhan DeLancey, 202-510-4177, siobhan.delancey@fda.hhs.gov

Trade Inquiries: Stephen King, 240-402-1407, stephen.king@fda.hhs.gov

Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

FDA reopens comment period on proposed ‘gluten-free’ food labeling rule

Rule would help by creating a uniform and enforceable definition

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today reopened the comment period for its 2007 proposal on labeling foods as “gluten-free.” The agency is also making available a safety assessment of exposure to gluten for people with celiac disease (CD) and invites comment on these additional data.

One of the criteria proposed is that foods bearing the claim cannot contain 20 parts per million (ppm) or more gluten. The agency based the proposal, in part, on the available methods for gluten detection. The validated methods could not reliably detect the amount of gluten in a food when the level was less than 20 ppm. The threshold of less than 20 ppm also is similar to “gluten-free” labeling standards used by many other countries.

People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. Celiac disease damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. About 1 percent of the United States population is estimated to have the disease.

“Before finalizing our gluten-free definition, we want up-to-date input from affected consumers, the food industry, and others to help assure that the label strikes the right balance,” said Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods. “We must take into account the need to protect individuals with celiac disease from adverse health consequences while ensuring that food manufacturers can meet the needs of consumers by producing a wide variety of gluten-free foods.”

The proposed rule conforms to the standard set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 2008, which requires that foods labeled as “gluten-free” not contain more than 20 ppm gluten. This standard has been adopted in regulations by the 27 countries composing the Commission of European Communities.

The FDA encourages members of the food industry, state and local governments, consumers, and other interested parties to offer comments and suggestions about gluten-free labeling in docket number FDA-2005-N-0404 at www.regulations.gov. The docket will officially open for comments after noon on Aug 3, 2011 and will remain open for 60 days.

To submit your comments electronically to the docket go to www.regulations.gov

1. Choose “Submit a Comment” from the top task bar
2. Enter the docket number FDA-2005-N-0404 in the “Keyword” space
3. Select “Search”

To submit your comments to the docket by mail, use the following address:

The Division of Dockets Management
HFA-305
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

Include docket number FDA-2005-N-0404 on each page of your written comments.

For more information:

Federal Register Notice (scroll to FDA--temporary link will update when document publishes on Aug. 3):

http://www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Gluten-Free Portal (scroll to Gluten-Free):

http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/FoodLabelingGuidanceRegulatoryInformation/Topic-SpecificLabelingInformation/default.htm#gluten

FDA’s Proposed Rule on the Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods: http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/FoodAllergensLabeling/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/ucm077926.htm

Questions and Answers on the Gluten-Free Labeling Proposed Rule:

http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/FoodLabelingGuidanceRegulatoryInformation/Topic-SpecificLabelingInformation/ucm265309.htm

Consumer Update on the Gluten-Free Labeling Proposed Rule:

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm265212.htm

Senators seek FDA's explanation on delay in gluten- free-labeling laws

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:53:00 +0000

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., asked the FDA for updates on when it will implement gluten-free-labeling regulations and demanded an explanation for the delay in enforcing such rules. "The regulatory uncertainty surrounding FDA's inaction has led to a proliferation of 'gluten free' standards and labels provided by 3rd party groups. This creates confusion for consumers, and hesitancy amongst producers on what their requirements will be," they wrote in a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg.

See full story here - http://mobile.foodnavigator-usa.com//Regulation/Senators-urge-FDA-action-on-gluten-free-labeling

Is Gluten Making You Sick?

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:07:00 +0000

Whole Foods Market - Raleigh Wade Avenue Location

Thursday, August 11th

Is Gluten Making You Sick? presented by Dr. Loan Huynh, DC

7:00 - 8:00 pm Free, Pre-Register

Did you know that 30% of Americans may be gluten sensitive?

Did you know that the majority of people with gluten sensitivity do NOT have symptoms? Come to this insightful presentation and get the facts on gluten sensitivity and Celiac Disease!

Dr. Huynh will discuss why gluten sensitivity and Celiac Disease are prevalent and why most people go undiagnosed. You will also learn about cutting edge tests to detect gluten sensitivities, the dangers of gluten sensitivity if not detected, and what to do about it!

Dr. Loan Huynh is a Holistic Health Doctor and owner of Optimal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Raleigh. She is board certified in chiropractic and also practices holistic medicine with an emphasis on nutrition. Dr. Huynh helps a variety of people ranging from injured athletes to the chronically ill achieve and maintain a healthy and vibrant lifestyle.

To learn more, please visit www.OptimalWellnessOfRaleigh.com

How Much Does The Gluten Free Diet Cost? One Man's Results.

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:36:00 +0000

I've never been accused of not being detail oriented or able to track something to the smallest degree, so I figured I'd put those skills into tracking what it actually costs to follow the Gluten Free diet. I've never seen anyone do this sort of tracking before, so I'm curious as to how my spending habits stack up to others. From what we know from studies, the average Gluten Free product costs nearly 250% more than it's gluten containing counterpart. We've all paid $6 or more for a loaf of gluten free bread, right? A case of Redbridge will set you back about $35.

Since January 1st, 2011, I've tracked EVERY purchase made by my family as it pertains to a labeled, packaged Gluten Free product. It's not been fun nor easy, but I chalked it up to valuable research to share with you all. See the chart below for monthly totals. Keep in mind that I am the only member of my family required to eat Gluten Free, but that our household (2 adults and one preschooler) is entirely Gluten Free for my safety. I don't consider myself someone who buys a ton of packaged food - we often strive to make meals from scratch with fresh ingredients.

Here are the results through June 2011 (click for bigger picture).

I will spare you the details of exactly what I have purchased, but let's just say that over the first 6 months of 2011, I've purchased 436 packaged Gluten Free items. These only include items specifically labeled as Gluten Free and do not include things that are naturally gluten free and not labeled - like milk, fruits, veggies or meat. This also does not include any purchases from restaurants nor sales tax (I believe it's 2% for groceries). The average price of those 436 items was nearly $4. Each time I put a Gluten Free product in my shopping cart - wham, another 4 bucks. The common products that show up on my list are things like cereal, pasta and bread.

The other thing you can clearly see is that since I've gone Gluten Free, I've added nearly 42% to my grocery bill. I've been GF since May 2008, so doing a little quick estimation based on spending $1800 every 6 months, I've spent approximately $10,800 on Gluten Free labeled products since my Celiac diagnosis. Can any of you think of what you'd rather like to spend nearly $11,000 on? That being said, I'm healthy so I'll try not to complain too much.

If others' spending habits are like mine, I'm led to believe that many folks would have difficulty following a Gluten Free diet strictly due to cost. How many people can't absorb spending nearly $4,000 more per year at the grocery store after receiving a Celiac diagnosis?

For a person with Celiac Disease, the Gluten Free diet is medically required for life. So eating Gluten Free is basically my daily medicine. Too bad my prescription drug plan doesn't cover the cost of Gluten Free food! It's also too bad that with all the ramp up in popularity of Gluten Free items over the last few years that manufacturers haven't lowered their prices.

I'd love to hear your input on what the Gluten Free diet is costing you financially. Please leave a comment if you've done any kind of tracking.

Gluten sensitivity can exist in non-celiac IBS patients

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:59:00 +0000

Australian researchers reporting in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found in a study that people with irritable bowel syndrome but not celiac disease can still exhibit a sensitivity to gluten. Slightly more than two-thirds of the patients in the small study reported after a week a number of issues, including severe pain and bloating, compared to the group that was fed a gluten-free diet.

Whole Foods Wave Ave - Gluten Free Vendor Fair This Saturday 11a-2p

noreply@blogger.com (Zach) — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:04:00 +0000

Just a quick note that the Whole Foods Market located in Raleigh on Wade Avenue will be hosting a Gluten Free Vendor Fair this Saturday, May 14th, 2011 from 11am to 2pm.

There will be samples from UliMana Chocolate, Mary's Gone Crackers, Happy Tummy Baking Company, Old Mill Kettle Corn, Bigelow Tea, Num Num Sauce and more!

Saturday, May 14th
Gluten Free Fair

11:00 am-2:00pm Free!

It's our Gluten Free Fair! Tempt your taste buds with tasty treats! Lots of great products and local vendors. Try a variety of samples...all gluten free!

3540 Wade Ave
Raleigh, NC 27607 USA

Phone 919.828.5805

Store hours:
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. seven days a week.