Ottawa Senators To Host Celiac Disease Awareness Night

The Canadian Celiac  Association has teamed up with the Ottawa Senators to host a Celiac Awareness night

 When I received an email from the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) advising of this event, I was thrilled! As a Celiac and a hockey fan, this is a double win. I have emailed an inquiry as to whether or not there will be any Celiac safe food at the event and will post an update once a response is received.

     When:
     Saturday, March 4^th 2017

     Where:
     The Canadian Tire Centre
     1000 Palladium Drive Ottawa, 
       Ontario K2V 1A5



       How to purchase tickets:

Please visit this page to ensure that part of your ticket price will be donated to the CCA. 

You NEED to use the promo code CELIAC when you complete checkout.
Not a hockey fan, but know someone who is? Senators tickets make a great Christmas or birthday gift! Plus you will also be helping fellow Celiac's - A portion of ticket proceeds will support important awareness, research, and restaurant training programs. All brought to you by the CCA.                  

 

For more information, kindly email cca.communications@celiac.ca with your inquiry.

Reporting Gluten-Free Issues In Canada

Gluten-Free Standards

In Canada, a gluten-free manufacturer is expected to ensure that no gluten containing grains are present as an ingredient and that all ingredients used in the manufacture of a gluten-free product are indeed gluten-free and have not been cross contaminated in any way. Meaning gluten-free equals gluten-free. Not maybe, or almost, but entirely gluten-free.

What Can You Report?

• Foods containing gluten, being sold as gluten-free 
• An adverse reaction you've had following the consumption of gluten-free food
• Restaurants/bakeries which market gluten containing items as gluten-free
• Food falsely advertised in print as gluten-free

How To Report Your Concerns

Please report your concerns to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). They are responsible for enforcing the labelling regulations that are set by Health Canada. Once they have your complaint, they will investigate further. 

Contact your local CFIA regional office or call the following toll-free number 1-800-442-2342.

You can also use this online form to report your food safety or labelling concern.

What Will Happen

When you make a complaint, the CFIA will open a case file and launch a food safety investigation. A representative from the agency will contact you and may visit your home. A home visit is necessary for retrieval of leftover food in question. A sample will then be sent to a lab to be analysed. They may also visit the store which you purchased the item in question at to collect more samples.

You will be asked for 

• Brand Name Of Product 
• Size, Universal Product Code (UPC), Best Before Date 
• Name and Address Of The Store where product Was Purchased At 
• Purchase Date(s) 
• Home Address (ensures your inquiry reaches the correct CFIA regional office) 
• Daytime Phone Number so an inspector can reach you

Please keep any remaining product as a sample may be needed for investigation

You're Making A Difference

Speaking up and voicing your concerns is priceless. I cannot stress enough how important this is. Every complaint is taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.

 Thanks to our help, the CFIA is able to:

- Issue Food Recalls

- Implement Label Updates
- Provide Allergen Safety Alerts
- Prevent Companies From Engaging In Misleading Advertising
- Notify Manufactures About Allergen Protocol



Did you know that you can sign up for food recall warnings via email? There's also a handy web application  which you can download free of charge, to stay up to date as well.

Interview With Gluten Free Garage's Ronnilyn Pustil & Contest

May 1st marks the beginning of Celiac Awareness Month. If you live in the greater Toronto area or are up for a drive, you need to check out Gluten Free Garage.

Although 2016 marks the event's fifth year, it will be my first time attending and I am super excited!

This event is sort of like a farmers market meets a pop-up shop. It brings together the gluten-free community for a great cause. Plus, you will have the opportunity to discover local vendors, sample goodies and listen to some amazing guest speakers.




I had the pleasure of interviewing the founder of Gluten Free Garage, RonniLyn Pustil. See below to find out how the event got its start, what you can expect to find, and more!

Interview

1. How did Gluten Free Garage get its start?

I started Gluten Free Garage in 2012, about three years after my daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease. By then we had gone through a lot of trial and error with different gluten-free products. What was out there was disappointing—think sawdust crackers, crumbly muffins, cardboard pizza, mushy pasta. If the only treatment for celiac disease is a strict gluten-free diet for life, why should people with celiac have to sacrifice taste or quality? I wanted my daughter to find the joy in food, rather than feeling deprived and sad about what she couldn’t eat. So I made it my mission to find gluten-free products that tasted good and were good for you. I scoured the city and its outskirts for fresh, delicious gluten-free food. I found quite a few small local businesses making yummy and healthier gluten-free food; many were vendors at farmers’ markets or food events. Whenever I brought something new home to try—whether it was a fresh loaf of gluten-free sourdough bread or savoury falafel balls or a new granola bar—there was excitement. I wanted to share them with other people who also had to eat gluten free. At first I thought about opening a retail store. But then, one sunny fall day I was at my neighbourhood farmers’ market at Wychwood Barns and the big garage-like doors were open; it was so bustling and lively and there was such a sense of community in that room. And that’s when the idea came to me to create a farmers’ market with a gluten-free twist, and to host it at the Barns. Hence the name, Gluten Free Garage.

2.      What can a first -time visitor to the event expect to encounter?

A lively food event with an astounding array of gluten-free products—from pasta to pastry to pierogies to popsicles! A first-timer might find it hard to believe that all the food at Gluten Free Garage are indeed gluten free! But it is, and everything is safe for people with celiac and gluten intolerance. Vendors will be sampling and selling their food, many will be preparing and cooking fresh food on site. There will be beer and cider tasting in the outdoor covered courtyard. And we have 5 dynamic guest speakers who will present on a variety of topics related to gluten-free living and eating.

2.      There will be several guest speakers, sharing their knowledge. Can you tell me a little about them?

We’ve got a group of four well-known and respected local nutritionists—Joy McCarthy, Meghan Telpher and Josh Gitalis, and Marni Wasserman—who will each give their take on gluten-free living and eating. They’re all vendors at GFG as well, so if you miss their talk you’ll still have a chance to interact with them. Ashley Wittig, co-owner of vegan and gluten-free Bunner’s Bakeshop (also a GFG vendor), will take a walk on the savoury side. And celiac advocate Jordan Middlebrook, aka King Gluten Free, will tell you why celiac disease doesn’t have to be a buzzkill.

3.      What makes Gluten Free Garage unique?

All the smiling faces! Many people are so excited and grateful for the delicious gluten-free finds at Gluten Free Garage. And just to be at a food event and be able to eat everything there. It’s a marketplace with a real community feel. 

4.      Which vendors are you most excited about?

How can I choose?! Of course, all the baked goods, because we have the best gluten-free bakeries participating. This will be the first time we have pierogies (Joe’s Gluten-Free Foods) and dumplings (Steambox Dumplings) at GFG. And the beer and cider tasting, which we introduced at our last event, will be bigger this year, with three beers, three apple ciders and one pear cider. 

5.      What do you want people to know about Celiac disease?

That it’s real and the only treatment for it is a strict gluten-free diet for life. 

 6.      Celiac awareness has come a long way thanks to wonderful people like you. What do you hope to see happen in terms of education and awareness?

 I hope that as more education and awareness is out there, more people with symptoms of celiac disease will get tested. About 350,000 people in Canada have celiac disease but don’t know it. And as long as they are still eating gluten, they are causing damage to their bodies in myriad ways.          

7.      Sometimes our day to day can get a little hectic and we need a meal in a hurry. What is your favourite gluten-free recipe to prepare when you’re in a time crunch?

 Pasta with whatever vegetables and protein I have in the fridge and a sprinkle of fresh Parmesan. I always have a few boxes of Italpasta in the pantry. Salads are easy to whip up and are always fresh. We love a good Nicoise salad and we usually have all the ingredients on hand.

8.      Do you have any favourite gluten-free products?

Yes, we all have our own favourites from different places. Many of them will be at Gluten Free Garage. 

9.      Finally, what advice can you share for someone who is just starting out on the gluten-free diet?

Learn to cook if you don’t already. Know what to look for on ingredient labels. Ask questions. When in doubt, don’t eat it. And don’t settle for anything less than delicious. 

When

Sunday, May 1, 2016  (10 am to 4 pm)

Where

Artscape Wychwood Barns (in the Covered Street Barn)

601 Christie Street (just south of St. Clair), Toronto

Ticket info

$10 / free for kids 12 and under

Free GFG tote bags for the first 1,000 people!

Giveaway Time!!!

Enter below to score a free pair of tickets to attend Gluten Free Garage.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can connect with Gluten Free Garage on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

A Little Awareness Goes A Long Way (pass it on)

WHAT is Celiac Disease?

• Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder where the villi of the small intestine become damaged by consuming gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley and rye)
• When a Celiac consumes gluten, the body reacts by attacking itself because it views gluten as the enemy
• Untreated, Celiac can cause anemia, malnutrition and increase the risk for other autoimmune diseases as well as some Cancers
• Some people with Celiac also suffer from Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) which is a condition where the skin breaks out in painful rashes and blisters
• Celiac is genetic, meaning it can be passed down in families
• There is no known trigger, but those with the Celiac gene can develop the disease at any point in their life
• Once the disease manifests, there is no "off" button and a strict gluten free diet is important

WHO should be tested

• 1st-degree relatives of someone with Celiac such as a sibling, child or parent
• Those with unexplained infertility
• People with Down Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, Osteoporosis or Type 1 Diabetes
• If you have unexplained and chronic GI issues or have iron, B12 or folate deficiencies

WHY accurate testing is important

• With an accurate Celiac diagnosis, you are able to start a gluten free diet without doubt and you will have a better chance adhering to it
• If you have a negative blood test and symptoms are still present, further testing needs to be explored as an IgA deficiency can cause a false negative blood test
• Ruling out Celiac is just as important as confirming it. It enables you and your physician to further explore your symptoms and hopefully pinpoint the cause

HOW to be tested properly

• Remain on a normal gluten-containing diet (cutting back gluten will sku test results as well)

• Have your physician run a blood test to measure levels of certain antibodies - anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) anti-endomysium (EMA) and the anti-deamidated gliadin peptides (DGP)

• While a positive antibody test is able to suspect Celiac Disease, it is not conclusive (false positives can happen for various reasons) and further testing needs to be explored. This is where a biopsy comes into play as it allows Doctor's to check for damage to the lining of the small intestine

• Feeling better when gluten is avoided does not necessarily mean you have Celiac Disease. Irritable Bowels Syndrome (IBS), Celiac, Chronic Fatigue and various other autoimmune disorders are easily confused for one another

• If you are already adhering to a gluten free diet, you will need to undergo a gluten challenge to ensure accurate test results. This means you will need to consume 10 grams of gluten (4-5 slices of wheat bread) daily for up to 8 weeks. If this is not an option for you, there is genetic testing available. It won't diagnose you as Celiac, but it can rule it out if you do not carry the gene.

The Broken Road To Awareness

Why is Celiac Disease so misunderstood? Why is there so much varying information? Why can't we all be on the same page? Why? Why? Why?

Celiac is the only disease that I can think of, where the people who are diagnosed don't even really understand it, let alone the Doctor's diagnosing it.  We are sort of left to figure it out on our own, resulting in widespread misconceptions, wrong choices, inaccurate media coverage and best of all, the pain of accidental Glutening.


Uneducated Doctors : 
If the front line is not in order, how can we expect those who have Celiac Disease to fully understand their condition? Most family Doctors have minimal knowledge about Celiac. Many of them neglect to do the proper testing and suggest that their patients try a Gluten Free diet to see how it makes them feel. In the long run, they are only adding to the misconceptions. Due to the lax in proper diagnosis, some are just assuming that they have Celiac, when in fact they don't. Others face numerous hurdles in getting an accurate diagnosis.

Another issue is with the lack of Celiac Disease specialists. People who live near a facility such as the Chicago Center for Celiac Disease research luck out. But those of us who are nowhere near a research facility, often get put on the back burner unless we fiercely advocate for proper testing and the answers to go along with it.

Not enough awareness:  Celiac Disease awareness seems to be  IS severely lacking. Due to it being virtually non existent, people usually assume that eating Gluten Free is a choice and they do not associate it with a real disease. Both those who have Celiac and those who don't are not usually fully aware how serious this autoimmune disease is. Many people are too embarrassed to speak up and make sure food is Gluten Free, some admit that they "cheat" once in a while and others just don't know where to start. 

Resources are also limited. The support and information available to those who are newly diagnosed varies substantially from City to Province to Country. Celiac is a confusing and overwhelming disease to be diagnosed with. Many people are told they have the disease and then sent on their way with no formal education about it.

Fear mongers :  
There is a never ending flood of people with personal agendas. Weather they are out to make money, or to spread misinformation in hopes of roping people into their way on thinking (anti GMO, No Grains ect.) there are many who use Celiac as a platform to preach non related issues.

Greed: 
This one touches all facets of Celiac Disease. Gluten Free food does not need to be as overpriced as it is. Period. We have come a long way and it is clearly a highly profitable market. But we are still gouged at the grocery store. Why? Because we have no choice, we are chained to the medical need for Gluten Free.

Big companies want to sell us books on how to live and eat Gluten Free.  Many individuals have started websites to offer "helpful" information to those with Celiac Disease, but unfortunately you have to pay a fee to reap the so called benefits. Also, the information which is being sold, is widely available for FREE.

Scams and the people who buy into them:
I'm not even going to list the various companies that make this list,but I will tell you what to be vigilant against. There are MANY magic pills out there, offering a way to prevent damage after eating Gluten. Some even offer a downright cure. These are SCAMS!!! First of all, if and when a cure or remedy becomes available, it will be international news. You will hear about it from those who research Celiac Disease as well as awareness organizations such as the National Foundation For Celiac Awareness, Canadian Celiac Association and Coeliac UK . Also, after a medical breakthrough, it will be years before any type of medication reaches the market. I can guarantee you won't be able to obtain it without a proper prescription either. 


Media : Can we not get some legitimate air time? Everyone from local news stations to Dr Oz has something to say about Gluten Free. The problem is that the rare time that they mention Celiac Disease, they do so in passing, like it's not the real issue. I tend to cringe when I see a news report about "Gluten Free". The newscasters never seem to educate themselves about what they are discussing and the so called specialist is usually someone who has no real background or education in Celiac Disease. Do we discuss MS or Parkinson's with a Podiatrist? No. Contrary to what one may think, not all Doctors are created equal. This is why they specialize in specific areas of health.

The question I am left with is, how can WE as a Celiac public, band together and create the necessary and accurate awareness that is vacant from our communities?