Celiac Disease Blog

Reuters is reporting that at a meeting this week in Geneva of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, officials set new benchmarks for producing gluten-free foods. The new benchmark dictates that food labeled gluten-free may not contain wheat, rye, barley or oats, and its gluten level may not exceed 20 parts per million (ppm). Until now, the Codex limit was 200 ppm. The upper limit for gluten is already lower in some countries (in Canada, for example, the limit is less than 20 ppm), but in Europe and elsewhere, manufacturers have been adhering to the higher Codex limit.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission was created in 1963 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to develop food standards and guidelines that would serve as global references for consumers, food producers, food processors, national food control agencies and international food traders. As of 2006, 174 countries were represented on the Commission. Member countries will be expected to work the new gluten limits into their national legislation (unless they already set lower limits, as some do). The limit will also be enforced in food exports under World Trade Organization rules.

For more information on gluten-free limits and food labeling, read The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA).

Thanks to About.com’s new Guide to Herb Gardens, I learned that today is National Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day. Far be it from me to let a holiday devoted to ice cream pass unmarked! Below, my nominations.

Most Creative Gluten-Free Flavor: Cookie Dough! Did you think you’d ever have cookie dough ice cream again? Turtle Mountain Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Frozen Dessert is technically not ice cream, because it’s dairy-free, but according to the manufacturer it’s “packed with scrumptious cookie dough chunks and crispy chocolate flakes.”

Most Allergen-Friendly Ice Cream Parlor Chain: Did you know that Baskin Robbins, with more than 5,800 ice cream parlors in 34 countries, lists allergens for every flavor on its display cases? You never have to wonder what’s hidden in the ice cream, sherbet or ices.

Gelato Parlor I’d Most Like To Visit: In the heart of London’s Covent Garden is Scoop, which offers pure Italian gelato made of natural ingredients. Not only does Scoop offer gluten-free flavors, but they even have gluten-free ice cream cones! (And if you’re in central London, they deliver.)

Do you have a favorite gluten-free ice cream flavor or ice cream parlor, or a favorite recipe? Share your suggestions with us in the celiac disease forum.

From around the internet, assorted articles of interest to people with celiac disease:

• Advances Aid Treatment, Diagnosis of Celiac Disease
• Oh, Brother: What a Gluten-Free Baker Can Do
• Gluten-free bakery gets boost from enzyme: study
• Gluten-free to Nutrient-rich -- Trendspotting at ExpoWest -- June 2008

A few weeks ago, I posted an article about where to find gluten-free wedding cakes. For the sake of those who'd like to prepare wedding cakes themselves for friends or relatives, I asked readers for suggestions for gluten-free wedding cake recipes. To our great good fortune, Kari Diehl, About.com's Guide to Scandinavian Food, rose magnificently to the challenge and published her recipe for Norway's traditional Kransekake, or "Ring Cake." According to Kari, "The Ring Cake is the signature cake of Norway, earning pride of place on wedding, birthday, graduation, and holiday banquet tables. Traditionally made from almonds, confectioner's sugar, and egg whites, it is a splendid flourless, gluten-free alternative to standard celebratory cakes."

Kari describes the cake as a treasure for almond-lovers, with a soft-yet-chewy texture. She says it's also a great make-ahead cake, as it improves by resting for a day or two. and it's easily frozen. After Norwegian weddings, brides save and freeze the top few layers of the cake to enjoy in celebration of their first wedding anniversary.

This cake would be spectacular not just for weddings, but also for anniversaries, graduations, or any other special milestones. In addition to the actual recipe, Kari also posted a blog entry about this naturally gluten-free cake. Thanks, Kari!

_{Norwegian Kransekake photo ©Kari Diehl, licensed to About.com}

Victoria Groce, About.com's Guide to Food Allergies, has celiac disease. Of course, she doesn't focus on celiac disease on her Food Allergies site (and in fact, celiac disease is not an allergy). Still, there are many parallels between food allergies and celiac disease, and lots of Victoria's articles are very relevant for those of us on gluten-free diets.

Here are a few articles from Victoria that celiacs and their families might find particularly useful:

• How To Buy Gluten-Free Pasta
• Can I Take Christian Holy Communion If I Have a Wheat Allergy or Celiac Disease?
• Teaching Kids About Severe Allergies
• Frugal Living And Food Allergies

Thanks, Victoria!

Is a bechamel sauce safe for celiacs? What about a demi glace? Or a souffle? Take a look at our glossary of phrases that commonly show up on restaurant menus, so you'll know what you need to avoid.

When you receive the hepatitis B vaccine series, your immune system is supposed to respond by producing antibodies to the hepatitis B virus. In addition, some of the immune cells that are involved in the body’s response to the vaccine become what’s known as “memory cells.” Many studies have shown, however, that in patients with celiac disease, the vaccine does not always produce adequate (or “protective”) levels of antibodies or memory cells.

After speaking with Dr. Leona Kim Schluger, Director of Transplant Hepatology at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY, I’ve posted an article (Celiac Disease And The Hepatitis B Vaccine) that explains what people with celiac disease need to do if they don’t know for sure that their immune system response to the hepatitis B vaccine was appropriate.

My own dad is gone, my husband’s father lives abroad, and my stepdaughter is away at school… so Father’s Day was going to be very quiet around our house, until we decided to invite my uncle and cousin over for a festive outdoor Father’s Day breakfast. I’ll probably choose something to make from my list of gluten-free brunch recipes.

For those of you planning gluten-free Father’s Day meals later in the day, here are just a few of the wonderful gluten-free recipes I've collected from About.com's Guides. (Because so many Americans have barbecues on Father's Day, I've focused today on recipes for grilling.)

To all the fathers out there, Happy Father's Day!

From About.com’s Guide to Southern Food
Grilled Chicken With Rosemary
Garlic Chicken On The Grill

From About.com’s Guide to Busy Cooks
Glazed Strip Steak With Pineapple Salsa
Grilled Swordfish With Tomato Salsa
Grilled Vegetable Kabobs

From About.com’s Guide to Food Allergies
Tomato Bruschetta
Fruit Salad With Allergy Safe Champage Dressing

From About.com’s Guide to Vegetarian Food
Sugar Glazed Barbecued Sweet Corn
Cajun Spiced Grilled Portabella Mushrooms
Barbecued Asparagus

From About.com’s Guide to Barbecues and Grilling
Grilled Cantelope Pieces
Grilled Rum And Pineapple Kabobs
Grilled Halibut Steaks

The American Celiac Disease Alliance (ACDA) is working with other organizations to improve the availability and access to gluten-free meals in schools for students with celiac disease. As part of this effort, the Alliance is conducting a survey of parents with celiac children, to try to determine the level of interest for gluten-free school lunches. If you have a child with celiac disease attending school, the Alliance asks that you take a few moments to fill out its survey. The survey will close on July 2, 2008.

I've just posted a review of Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Mix. This mix made a really delicious, "crusty" crust. What's more, the pizza kept well in the refrigerator and was still crusty when I reheated it, even if I reheated it in the microwave instead of the oven.

A few months ago, we "talked" (via comments to a blog post) about the problem of finding good gluten-free pizzas, especially for kids who go to lots of pizza parties. Some of you suggested making a gluten-free pizza the night before and sending along a slice for the party hosts to reheat. This pizza crust mix would definitely help in that regard.