Friday January 16, 2009
Eating away from home is really one of the most challenging and frustrating aspects of having Celiac disease. Most of us have been in situations when we aren't 100% sure that the foods available are, in fact gluten-free. Our only choice is not to eat the questionable food.
A new, easy-to-use at-home test called the EZ Gluten® Test Kit is available to help people with Celiac disease avoid accidental exposure to gluten. The test kit was developed by ELISA Technologies, Inc., and has been tested on over 100 foods including a wide variety of gluten-free flours, breads and mixes. It's even been used to test for gluten in pet foods.
The test has been shown to be highly reliable at identifying the presence of gluten in raw and cooked foods to levels as low as 10 parts per million (ppm). The FDA may rule on allowable levels of 20 ppm in food labeled "gluten-free" in the near future. The European Union allows gluten-free labeling of products at 20 ppm.
Learn more about the EZ Gluten® Test Kit and how it can be used at-home or while traveling to prevent accidental exposure to gluten.
Suggested Reading
Avoid Gluten in Processed Foods and Beverages
How to Shop for Gluten-Free Foods
The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act
When in Doubt- Contact the Manufacturer
Celiac-Friendly Restaurant Directory
Wednesday January 14, 2009
We're not too far into the New Year to talk about new beginnings are we? As soon as I read
Fresh Start for a New Year? Let’s Begin in the Kitchen in Mark Bittman's
Minimalist column in the New York Times last week, I thought, "This is what good gluten free cooking is all about." Fresh ingredients. Simple recipes. Healthy foods with real flavor.
What's on Bittman's IN list for 2009? Homemade bread crumbs and croutons, salad dressings, pie crusts and vegetable stocks just to name a few. What's OUT in 2009? Canned beans and peas and stale spices and herbs. Read Mark's Fresh Start for a New Year? and no question, you'll stockpile practical, economical ideas for better gluten free cooking.
Gluten Free Recipes to Start the Year Fresh
Public Comment for FDA Food Allergen Labeling - Deadline 1/14/2009
Monday January 12, 2009
The advisory labeling of foods that contain allergens is an important issue to label-reading gluten free cooks. There is still time to familiarize yourself with FDA allergen labelling progress and to make an electronic submission comment to the FDA by January 14th.
Take a few minutes to read FDA Docket 2008-N-0429-0001- "Food Labeling; Current Trends in the Use of Allergen Advisory
Labeling: Its Use, Effectiveness, and Consumer Perception; Public
Hearing; Request for Comments."
According to this docket the "FDA is developing a long-term strategy to assist manufacturers in using allergen advisory labeling that is truthful and not misleading, conveys a clear and uniform message, and adequately informs food allergic consumers and their caregivers."
Follow this link to the FDA Public Comment Submission Form. Let your voice be heard- tell the FDA how you feel about the labeling of products that contain allergens. The FDA deadline for public comment is 11:59 PM EST, Wednesday, January 14, 2009.
Read FDA Docket-2008-N-0429
Direct Link to FDA Public Comment Electronic Submission Form
Monday January 12, 2009
A reader emailed recently to ask how she could adapt my recipe for
Gluten Free Low Carb Apple Oat Muffins to a gluten free - dairy free version for her husband, due to his multiple food intolerances. The gluten free muffin recipe calls for 1/4 cup of plain yogurt.
As if living a gluten free lifestyle isn't challenging enough, the conditions of lactose intolerance (milk sugar) and casein intolerance (protein in cow's milk) can affect people with Celiac disease and gluten intolerance. This makes eating a balanced, varied diet and cooking doubly difficult. No wheat, rye, barley or dairy. Whoa!
As one who has to avoid both gluten and casein, I am learning how to prepare some great dairy-free soft cheeses and yogurts from my colleague, Ashley Skabar, Guide to Dairy-Free Cooking.
Ashley's recipe for
dairy free sour cream, using fermented extra firm tofu and apple cider vinegar works nicely as a substitute for yogurt in my gluten free apple oat muffin recipe.
If you are on a gluten free and dairy free diet, check out Ashley's Dairy Free Cooking site for a wide variety of dairy substitution recipes.
Suggested Reading
Resources for People who are Gluten-Free AND Dairy-Free
More Dairy Free Cooking Tips from Ashley
Photo 2009 © Teri Lee Gruss
