Health

Chefs and Restaurateurs Flunk Gluten-Free Quiz at NRA Show

Ambler, Pa. (PRWEB) May 22, 2012

Chefs and restaurateurs lack a fundamental understanding of gluten-free protocols, and it’s a threat to those with gluten-related disorders, according to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), the non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and improving the lives of those of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

“When most people dine out, they expect a meal that’s safe to eat. Individuals with gluten-related disorders don’t have that luxury,” said Alice Bast, founder and president of NFCA.

Earlier this month, NFCA quizzed chefs and restaurateurs on the floor of the National Restaurant Association Show, an international gathering of professionals in the foodservice industry, and the results were alarming. Many of the chefs and restaurateurs said they have gluten-free options at their restaurants, yet less than four percent of them responded correctly to four questions regarding gluten (see “Survey Questions” below). Read More »

Summer is coming and fresh vegetables — in the stores, at the farmer’s markets and in your garden — will be plentiful. It’s time for summer salads.

Try this delicious salad as a side dish or even as a main. It’s light and satisfying.

Use the ingredients list as a guide. If you don’t have peppers, use what is on hand. If you don’t like cilantro, it’s fine not to use it at all; many people don’t like it. Use any lettuce, even finely sliced cabbage. See the tip below for how to make your red onion a little mellower. Or see what’s in your fridge, open a can of black beans, defrost some corn, and you have a delicious salad great for lunch or a party. Enjoy! Read More »

[We have been informed Chevys no longer offers a gluten-free menu. 1/1/2017]

The chain is the third to introduce gluten-free items this month

Chevys’ Guac My Way guacamole is part of its new gluten-free menu. Instead of chips, the dish is served with corn tortillas.

Chevys Fresh Mex this week became the latest restaurant chain to launch a gluten-free menu in its company-owned locations.

Outdoor Gluten-free Grilling

Here are some super tips and recipes to help you have a super Memorial Day weekend!

Top Ten Gluten Free Tips for Safe Outdoor Parties and Barbeques

Recipes:

Best Gluten-Free Chicken Wing Recipes

Gluten-Free Sauteed Chicken Tenders in 15 Minutes Read More »

Is Food That Contains Gluten Really Gluten-Free?

Domino’s Pizza recently announced it would offer gluten-free pizza for gluten sensitive customers. Domino’s made it clear that the pizzas used a gluten-free crust, but are manufactured using the same equipment as the other gluten-containing foods and are not safe for people with celiac disease.

Domino’s worked with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) and received the NFCA’s new, and now suspended, “Amber Designation.” This designation was to tell people that although the ingredients are gluten-free, the product cannot claim that cross contamination does not occur. The “Amber Designation” differed from the NFCA’s existing “Green Designation,” which tells the customer that the product is tested to less than 10 parts per million of gluten. “Amber” was basically a caution sign.

What Did Gluten-Free Watchdog Organizations Say?

• The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) and other organizations called for a recall of the NFCA’s “Amber Designation.”
• The North American Society for the Study of Celiac Disease commented on Domino’s Pizza ‘Gluten-Free’ Crust Announcement as follows,

Read More »

Chuck E. Cheese offering gluten-free pizza and cupcakes in Minnesota Photo credit: Chuck E. Cheese's

After hearing about the unsafe gluten-free pizzas at Domino’s, it was a breath of fresh air to hear that Chuck E. Cheese’s is test marketing gluten-free pizza and cupcakes at select Minnesota locations under the guidance of the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG).

Both of their gluten-free options will arrive in pre-sealed, single-serve packaging and they will remain that way through preparation to be opened and served at the table by the adult in charge. This means both the pizza and the cupcake will arrive at the table free from cross contamination and ready to be enjoyed by the birthday child!

How can they do this with a pizza you ask?  The cheese pizza is made by Read More »

(Editor’s Note: A follow up on Domino’s Pizza Offers Gluten-Free Pizza…Sort Of)

5/8/2012 9:29 PM ET  (RTTNews) – Domino’s new gluten-free pizza should not be eaten by people with Celiac disease, the company said in a statement. Apparently, the first gluten-free pizza being offered by national pizza chain is designed for people with gluten sensitivity, as opposed to those with full-blown Celiac disease.

Despite the fact that the crust are gluten free, Domino’s can’t guarantee that no gluten will come into contact with the pizza, which could be dangerous for those with the gluten allergy. Read More »

* The following post was not written by me, but rather supplied to me by Adrienne Walkowiak at http://www.allergyeats.com/*

AllergyEats Makes Traveling Easier This Spring,

Helps Families Find Food Allergy-Friendly Restaurants Nationwide

AllergyEats, The Most Comprehensive Source for Finding Allergy-Friendly Restaurants,

Offers Free Peer-Based Ratings, Tips & Info-Sharing Forums
BOSTON, MA (March 19, 2012) – Millions of people will travel this season for spring break, school vacation and the Easter/Passover holidays, and for most of them, these trips mean fun, relaxation and wonderful adventures.  But for the 15 million people with food allergies (and their families), traveling can be a source of tremendous anxiety.  Dining in unfamiliar cities and restaurants – which may or may not be able to accommodate their special dietary requirements – can be extremely stressful.  Worrying about a possible allergic reaction compounds the problem.  But the food allergy community can depend on AllergyEats (www.allergyeats.com), the biggest and fastest growing source for finding allergy-friendly restaurants, to help them more comfortably dine out wherever they are – resulting in a more enjoyable, less stressful trip.

“I’ve traveled extensively with my children – who are allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, sesame and dairy –  and have learned Read More »

National Foundation for Celiac Awareness Announces gluten-free credentialing to address widespread confusion in restaurant industry

New Credentialing Designed to Increase Food Safety Practices for those with Celiac Disease, Gluten Sensitivity and Gluten-Free Nutritional Preferences

Ambler, Pa. – April 25, 2012– National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), the non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and improving the lives of those of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, announces a gluten-free credentialing program that will enable restaurants to manage the growing interest around gluten-free menu items. There are inconsistent standards, a lack of understanding of the medical elements of a gluten-free diet and too often, a lack of transparency about kitchen practices within the restaurant sector that has put the health of patients with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity at risk.

“Gluten-free families, especially those who are newly diagnosed, struggle with maintaining the diet even at home,” says Dr. Ritu Verma, Pediatric Gastroenterologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of NFCA’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Board. “While eating out is such an integrated part of our social fabric, the lack of consistent standards creates a stressful experience that Read More »

I can’t believe that it has taken me this long to try Porta Via Italian Kitchen since hearing for the past year that they have amazing gluten-free pizza. But I’ve been leaning towards a high raw/vegan diet, so I’ve been less attracted to restaurants claiming to have the next best gf crust.  Yawn…

Having guests in town gave us the perfect opportunity to try Porta Via Italian Kitchen. I was astounded that they not only had gluten-free pizza, but gluten-free pasta as well.

Read More »