Tag Archives: NFCA

Sex and the Celiac: Dating Tips for the Gluten-Free

When you have celiac disease or another gluten-related disorder, dating can be fairly tricky. With so much focus on restaurant outings, movie theater snacks and the post-date kiss, people with a gluten-related disorder have a lot more to think about than just finding the perfect outfit.

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) shares these 5 tips for navigating the dating scene while staying gluten-free. Read More »

How To Make the Most of Celiac Awareness Month!

celiac

This year I am taking Celiac Awareness Month a little more personally than years past! In March, I went to the Digestive Disease National Coalition and met with Senators to discuss Resolution 550 that officially makes May  National Celiac Awareness Month.

When talking with the Senate staff I explained that making May Celiac Awareness Month gives members of the gluten free community a great jumping off point for awareness campaigns and projects. For example, the Read More »

Philly: A Gluten-Free Friendly Town

Gluten Free Pasta by Ristorante Panormama. Credits: Emma Furino

Gluten Free Pasta by Ristorante Panormama. Credits: Emma Furino

Philly is one of the most gluten-free friendly cities in the country. So much so, it’s been called “the first gluten-free neighborhood in the U.S.”

It takes a lot of components to come together to make a great GF city.

It helps if your state is no stranger to the gluten-free way of life. Earlier this year, Gluten Free Travel Site named Pennsylvania the “World’s Most Celiac-Friendly Destination.” We examined this accolade in Read More »

National Foundation For Celiac Awareness Prepares Colleges and Universities for Gluten-free Requests

1/18/2013

Recent Court Settlement Sets Strong Precedent for Gluten- and Allergen-Free Accommodations; NFCA Urges Colleges and Universities to Take Action.

 

Ambler, Pa.  (Jan.  15, 2013) – Students choose their college or university based on a number of factors. Their ability to find a meal on campus shouldn’t be one of them.

 

gluten free college cafeteriaAccording to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), an estimated 1 in 131 Americans is affected by celiac disease. These individuals require a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet – including when they’re at college.

 

“Students are coming home on break to find they have elevated blood levels or have lost significant weight because they’re not getting the gluten-free nutrition they need,” explains Alice Bast, founder and president of NFCA. “It’s a serious threat to their health, and it’s time the schools paid attention.”

Read More »

3 Things You Should Know Before Filing for a Gluten-Free Food Tax Deduction (United States)

gluten free taxes

Are YOU eligible for Tax deductions for gluten-free purchases??

It’s no secret that gluten-free packaged food is oftentimes more expensive than its gluten-containing counterparts, but did you know you might be eligible for a tax deduction to help make up the difference?

If you have never filed for a tax deduction for your gluten-free food purchases, there are some important things you should know before you do: Read More »

Appetite for Awareness 2012: Gluten-free Chefs Get Creative

Mouth Watering Marlin Tacos from Alma de Cuba

Besides the pasta, there were all kinds of interesting and delicious gluten-free foods at Appetite for Awareness. Caffe Gelato Restaurant and Catering, out of Newark, DE, was offering perfect crabcake morsels full of crabmeat while Rittenhouse Square’s Alma de Cuba was serving up mini marlin tacos. Chef Eric Paraskevas of Terra was plating up beautiful samples of his gluten-free pulled pork tostados and El Rey presented hungry attendees with mouth-watering Read More »

National Foundation for Celiac Awareness Puts Restaurant Industry to the Test

Kristen Beals Gluten Free Works

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 »

Domino’s Pizza, Celiac Disease Experts and Defining What Is REALLY Gluten-Free

what is gluten free

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 »

Family Members of Persons with Celiac Disease Wanted for Research Study (STUDY IS CLOSED)

Gluten Free Works Jennifer Harris

(Editor’s Note: This study is closed.)

I just learned of a new study being conducted by The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, Massachusetts to better understand the attitudes and beliefs of family members of persons with celiac disease.

More information on the study and how you can get involved follows: 

Celiac disease occurs in 10% of first-degree family members, such as a parent or sibling, and up to 20% of second-degree family members, such as an aunt, uncle or