Seattle food banks offer little help to celiac patients

Nutrition advocates say that while many Seattle restaurants offer gluten-free menu options, low-income people with celiac disease still struggle to afford gluten-free products. Lisa Garza, who writes the Gluten Free Foodies blog, has urged food banks to create gluten-free pantries, but none have done so because of space and cost issues. http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/voracious/2011/08/food_banks_struggle_to_keep_gl.php

Gluten-free food labels get closer FDA scrutiny

Food labels on gluten-free products are getting closer scrutiny from the FDA as it broadly studies revamping food labels in general. The FDA says new technologies allow for more accurate validation of gluten levels in food so it has extended a comment period to the end of September on a 2007 proposal that said products with 20 parts per million or more of gluten could not be labeled as gluten-free. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/09/fda-takes-closer-look-at-gluten-free-labels.html

FDA gluten-free standard is important for celiac patients

An FDA standard that says food products must contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten to achieve gluten-free status is an important first step for celiac disease patients even if it is not the preferred zero amount, Mayo Clinic dietitians say. There are no analytic methods that reliably detect lower concentrations, they say, and experts have said the 20 ppm level is a point at which there are few or no adverse events associated with eating the food. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gluten-free/MY00640

Packers' running back goes gluten-free for better health

Green Bay Packers running back James Stark has adopted a gluten-free diet on the advice of a nutritionist who said it was the best way to ensure he is healthy for the 2011 football season. While Stark did not say if he was diagnosed with celiac disease, for which a gluten-free diet is the only treatment, he joins other pro athletes, including Kyle Korver of the Chicago Bulls, U.S. swimmer Dana Vollmer and UFC fighter Dennis Hallman, who have found the regimen has improved their health.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-8941635

Are there degrees of gluten sensitivity?

Gluten sensitivity is a real diagnosis and may cover more than one condition, according to gastroenterology experts. Dr. Joseph Murray of the Mayo Clinic says gluten sensitivity could be called "celiac lite," in that a patient may have symptoms of celiac disease but not show the blood antibodies nor the intestinal damage characteristic of it. http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/15/are-there-degrees-of-gluten-sensitivity/

Gluten-free expo showcases abundance of products

Anyone on a gluten-free journey or intrigued with this emerging trend can put June 15, 2012 on their calendar to make sure to attend next year’s expo.

More than 60 vendors got to connect with customers as they showcased products at the D.C. Gluten-Free Expo in Washington. Some vendors got into the business because they or a family member have celiac disease and they offered generous samples to show people the wide range of food options available in gluten-free form. 
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/reading-ingredients-tales-health-conscious-mom/2011/jul/10/gluten-free-expo-showcases-abundance-products/ 

Chef finds gluten-free cooking gains traction in U.S.

Jacksonville, Fla., chef Aaron Flores says one sign that gluten-free cooking is making inroads in America is that this year the Gaylord Palms Hotel did not need his help cooking for people attending the Gluten Intolerance Group's annual conference. The chef at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Washington, D.C., works to raise awareness of celiac disease and gluten-free diets and is starting a company, I Eat What I Want! Hospitality, to help educate hotel chefs on gluten-free menu options. http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/455301/mark-basch/2011-07-01/gluten-free-advocates-getting-word-out