Archive for Health & Wellness
Visit Us at the Thrive Allergy & Gluten-Free Expo
Apple’s Bakery’s Gluten-Free Kitchen will have a table at this year’s Thrive Allergy & Gluten-Free Expo, April 18th and 19th at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The expo—the only business-to-consumer expo of this kind—offers resources for those suffering from respiratory, food, skin, and other allergies. Thrive was formerly known as the Allergy Expo. This year they’ve added “Gluten-Free” to their title to highlight the growing number of people diagnosed with Celiac disease.
The event will feature a variety of speakers, including Carol Shilson, Executive Director of the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center on “Diagnosing & Understanding Celiac Disease” and Cynthia Kupper, RD, Executive Director of the Gluten Intolerance Group on “Working with Gluten-free Food Services: Searching for the ‘Grain’ of Truth.”
There will also be raffles, a cooking stage (check out Allergy-Free Cake & Cookie Magic with Jules Shepard!), activities for kids, and a number of great exhibitors. Stop by and visit us next weekend!
For tickets and more information, visit the Thrive website: http://www.thriveallergyexpo.com.
Negligence in Gluten-Free Food Labeling
Back in August, I posted on gluten-free product labeling and how the FDA has taken strides to achieve higher food labeling standards. I recently read an article in The Chicago Tribune, however, that has changed my thinking.
In "Children at risk in food roulette," Tribune reporter Sam Roe describes how mislabeling food products is just as negligent as leaving the label blank. According to the Tribune's investigation, many "manufacturers mislabel their products and regulators fail to police store shelves." These products include candy, cookies, and ice creams- foods targeted at children. When individuals with food allergies-including a large number of children-ingest many of these seemingly harmless foods, they can suffer life-threatening symptoms.
The investigation followed the case of a Kentucky woman who bought Wellshire chicken nuggets-labeled as gluten-free-for her three-year old son, who has a severe wheat allergy. When the boy ate the nuggets, "he started coughing, his eyes swelled and he had trouble breathing." His mom contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the food manufacturer, and Wellshire Farms, all to no avail. The companies took down her information but did not recall the product.
The Tribune sent the Wellshire chicken nuggets to a leading food-allergy testing lab in Nebraska and found the product contained high amounts of gluten.
The reasons for mislabeling are the result of "weak and murky federal rules," the article said. Gluten-free labeling is still relatively new to the U.S. so manufacturers don't have to follow the same labeling regulations when it comes to gluten as they do with meat and dairy products.
For more information, read the full article, watch the video on food testing, and check out the Tribune's database of recalled food here.
Free Celiac Screening - October 18, 2008
The University of Chicago-renowned for its prestigious academic programs-is also home to the Celiac Disease Center, a non-profit organization devoted to spreading the word about celiac disease and helping those struggling with the ailment.
The center began in 2000 and was the first of its kind. Made up of doctors who specialize in infertility,
thyroid disease, dermatology, diabetes, cancer, and other disorders often linked with celiac disease, the center helps those with the disease and continues to search for innovative treatments and, ultimately, a cure.
Apart from conducting significant research and offering patient services to celiacs, the center also has an information hotline, a hands-on education center for medical professionals, and a care package program that delivers gift baskets of food and resources to the newly diagnosed celiacs all over the country.
The celiac center was started in an effort to educate doctors on the disease and dispel the previously held belief that the disease was rare. Many doctors weren’t, and still aren’t, screening for the disease, and many insurance companies won’t cover the screening costs.
For anyone at risk for celiac disease, the Celiac Disease Center is offering a free celiac blood screening on Saturday, October 18. The center offers the free screening each fall and nearly 500 participants come from the Chicagoland and countrywide. This is a great opportunity for those who can’t otherwise get tested.
My friend Kip will venture to Chicago this Saturday, along with his wife and beautiful two-year old daughter, to take part in the free screening. His wife was previously diagnosed as Celiac; both she and Kip are concerned that their daughter shares the disease. The screening will shape their lifelong nutritional journey as a family.
I’ve asked Kip to comment on his experience from a father’s point of view. Should any other blog readers know of someone who has been screened for celiac disease, or if you yourself have gone through the testing experience, please feel open to share your experience in the comments section below.
For more information on the free screening, or to pre-register, call the center’s office at (773) 702-7593 or visit the center’s website.
The Best Bread Ever!
Apple’s just introduced a new gluten- and dairy-free olive oil bread that we’re calling The Best Bread Ever!
Staff at the Peoria Easter Seals chapter tried some of the new bread and had great things to say:
“I thought it was good…I would tell families about it!”
“I like [that it's] without all the stuff that’s bad for you.”
“…the olive oil is a great touch. Tasty stuff!”
“My sister-in-law cannot tolerate wheat gluten and I’ve tasted her bread. This is 100 times better! I can hardly wait to tell her about it!”