Top 5 Celiac Disease Stories You May Have Missed This Week
1) Gluten Free Barley? -
Scientists in Australia have used "conventional plant breeding techniques" to produce an "ultra low-gluten" barley. Creators are saying that this new grain contains less than 5 ppm of gluten. Because of labeling standards in Australia, it can not be called "gluten-free" because it does contain gluten. Beer makers in Germany have already made a gluten-free beer with this grain. Kebari is planning to find other uses for this grain. At this time, the United States does not allow products containing any form of barley to be labeled gluten-free.
2) Barley Malt found in Sam Mills/ Emco Granolas and in Melaleuca shakes
Tricia Thompson, founder of Gluten Free Watchdog, has announced products on the market labeled as gluten-free while containing gluten-containing grains. The barley malt in the Sam Mills/ Emco granola is labeled as "gluten-free barley malt." The Melaleuca Attain Chocolate shake does not claim that the barley within is gluten-free.
Tricia explains on her blog in depth her growing concern about these issues, as more and more products are showing up on the market that are unsafe for consumers with Celiac Disease. We as consumers and advocates need to stand together and demand better.
3) Auburn Univerity Opens Dedicated Gluten-Free Eatery
Auburn University in Alabama is making headlines by offering a dedicated gluten-free diner on campus. This eatery is certified by GFCO and has taken great lengths to make sure the diner is safe. Auburn University made this move after multiple requests by students. Beyond Celiac is looking for input from college students about their dining experiences while on campus, and are asking them to take this survey.
4) Are airports doing enough to for those with food allergies?
Becca Alkema recently shared on the website "Runway Girl Network" the struggles of flying for those with Celiac Disease and food allergies. She highlighted the lack of safe gluten-free dining options in terminal restaurants, even mentioning that one restaurant turned her away. Alkema also highlighted the highly sensitive issue of peanut allergies and steps that flyers can take to protect themselves.
5) Nanoparticle treatment could help to "turn off" food allergies -
Researchers at Northwestern are working with a nanoparticle that may lead the way in treating food allergies. This biodegradable nanoparticle allows an allergen to be safely buffered from triggering an immune response. It hides the allergen in a "shell" and "consumed by a macrophage" cell. This somehow allows the immune system to no longer see it as threat. Researchers are testing this therapy for autoimmune disease such as Celiac Disease as well as for food allergies.Labels: From the Headlines
