The Allergic and Celiac communities in Canada have been in an uproar since November regarding our new food allergen and gluten source labeling laws that have been languishing for years. The laws began their journey in the 1990’s and by 2008, after pressure from allergy/Celiac groups, our government promised that we’d have definitive labelling laws in due course. In November, we began lobbying the Canadian government yet again as we were told that the laws were in jeopardy if they weren’t passed by December 31, 2010.

That date has come and gone yet our government says that the laws will be finalized shortly. We’ve been writing letters, signing petitions, contacting our MLA’s, meeting with the Health Minister and more to just get this done so we Canadians can have a law just like our American neighbors. Health Canada held countless roundtables and there were input periods for all manufacturers with the last one for comment on pure oats ending July 11, 2010.

Now, beer companies are lobbying to stop these upcoming laws on the premise that they will cause undue hardship to beer companies and that Celiacs all “know” that beer has gluten in it so why would beer and spirits need to be labelled?

I don’t know what’s in beer because I don’t drink it. Yet, somehow all allergic/Celiac individuals are supposed to innately know what’s in their spirits? And as one person suggested, what if I can’t drink something but my hostess doesn’t know that as she makes her special recipe with beer, liqueur, etc?

With years to weigh in with Health Canada during the consultation process and an 18 month phase in of any new labelling laws, the beer industry needs to give their head a shake and figure out that keeping people safe and healthy is really what’s in their best interest.

Want to know more? Here’s link on the story at CTV news: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20110125/food-allergens-beer-110125/

We’re very lucky that our government in Canada is supportive of small businesses and provides favorable loan programs for the purchase of machinery. Because of a loan through our local Community Futures office, we were able to purchase “Bertha” our packaging machine that puts the packaging around all of our granola bars (we name all of our machinery, including Fabio, our heat shrinker).

Because of that loan a few years ago, we were chosen to be showcased in a series of successful business videos put together by Community Futures BC. That video is now available for viewing on YouTube at: Nonuttin’ Foods on YouTube. Check it out to find out a little bit more about our family business.

When I speak to our American clients, I often hear how impressed they are with Canadian labelling. They have the erroneous impression that our laws are superior to their own. They’re wrong and we may be finding out just how much by the end of 2010.

American lawmakers passed FALCPA (Food Allergen Labelling Consumer Protection Act) in 2004 and it became mandatory in 2008. Health Canada started its process for new labelling laws a decade ago and they still haven’t been completed. In fact, an urgent letter for support from many of Canada’s allergy and Celiac support groups went out today that indicates if the proposed laws do not pass by the end of 2010, they will expire!

I realize that Health Canada is trying to be careful to address many health concerns and is listening to many stakeholders. I’ve participated in the consultation process both personally and representing Nonuttin’ Foods. But can you imagine a business or household that ran this way? Read more »

If you are Celiac and feel like you don’t sleep well and feel rested, it’s not in your head.  A recent study shows that Celiacs, whether following a gluten free diet or not, Celiacs suffer more than others with sleep disorders.  Check out the link:  http://www.celiac.com/articles/22292/1/Gluten-free-or-Not-Celiacs-Suffer-More-Sleep-Disorders/Page1.html

If you are exploring the possibility of having Celiac Disease (CD), there are certain steps that your doctor will take with you.  At this point in time, most patients progress from a blood and/or genetic test with positive results to a bowel biopsy.  The bowel biopsy has long been considered the gold standard for a definitive diagnosis of CD.

 However, a new study from Argentina, as reported in Science Daily, suggests that 92% of Celiacs could be diagnosed from blood tests alone.  Check out the link to the study:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100708094603.htm

 Prior to both the blood test for antibodies and the bowel biopsy, the patient must be eating gluten.  Otherwise, the test and biopsy may show as “normal” since the bowel will heal once gluten is removed completely from the diet and the body will no longer be producing antibodies to fight against the gluten.  Staying on a diet with gluten is really easy for those who are asymptomatic but quite a challenge for those who are badly hit by fatigue, diarrhoea and more.  For symptoms of Celiac Disease see:  http://www.celiac.com/articles/1106/1/Celiac-Disease-Symptoms/Page1.html

 The genetic test does not require a specific diet as it only tests for the presence of specific genes but it is not suitable on its own to diagnose either Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance.  It is used more often to screen direct family members of a patient diagnosed with CD to see if they also have the potential genes for the disease.

 The study from Argentina does not indicate whether the blood serology tests they recommend require the patient to be eating gluten at the time of the test.  If they require gluten in the diet at the time of testing, it still doesn’t solve the problem that many of those face who are looking for a diagnosis.  Namely, if you are already on a gluten free diet and feeling fantastic, why would you want to go back to eating gluten for a diagnosis you already believe in anyway?

 And finally, even if this Argentinean study is correct, there are still reasons to have a biopsy anyway.  Since there are many other health issues that may affect a Celiac from cancer to infection, a baseline view of your bowel could diagnose other health issues that must be addressed.  But this certainly may open up a good discussion for you and your health professional.

Oats have been cultivated for over 2000 years and are a staple in many diets worldwide. They are well known for their fiber content, B vitamins and iron plus their ability to slow the absorption of sugars. I’ve been a big fan of the nutritional value of oats for years and would not change Nonuttin’ granola products to be suitable for gluten free diets until pure/gluten free oats became available in 2007.

If you are not a Celiac or are one of the approximately 95% of Celiacs who can tolerate pure oats (be sure they say “Pure”/Wheat, Barley, Rye Free in Canada or Gluten Free in the US to ensure that they are not cross contaminated with gluten containing grains), oats are a fabulous way to add great nutrition to your diet. Need more convincing? Read the article about oats from The Healthy Shopper.

There’s no doubt that many people have a medical need for a gluten free diet whether due to Celiac disease or gluten intolerance. However, there has been another side to the recent explosion in interest in the gluten free diet and that side can only be a fad.

Some from the fad side believe that gluten free diets are a means to lose weight and have a potentially healthier diet. Not necessarily so say the experts, including well known Gluten Free Expert and dietician, Shelley Case, in this post from The Natural Merchandiser

Why does it always feel like the new school season sneaks up on me, even when I’m thinking that I’d welcome the return to routine?  Some of you have already gone back to school (either yourself or your kids), and some are heading back shortly.  Even if you don’t have children and school is the furthest thing from your mind, it’s still a great opportunity to review the systems you have in place to control your special dietary and medication needs. 

1.  I know it is stressful to put your child’s life in someone else’s hands.  But remember that this may be an educational journey for the staff you’re speaking to.  It is imperative to work through the issues positively but firmly and recognize that it may take several meetings and contact on your part to implement an appropriate plan.  Having all staff who will deal with your child present at the same meeting is helpful but also ensure that part-time staff or teacher substitutes are included in the staff plan.  If you are in a workplace environment, take the time to educate your boss and co-workers.  Don’t assume that because someone has dealt with your same medical concern before, they know everything about the condition and treatment.

2.  As a former elementary teacher, I really appreciated having the parent of the child with medical concerns (food or otherwise) provide me with some helpful information and tips that I should be aware of.  This could include suggestions for healthy lunch ideas for the class that don’t include the allergen, facts about the food allergy he or she will deal with, providing safe treats to keep in the classroom and perhaps offering to come in and speak to the class about your child’s allergy.  Back to school is an incredibly busy time for teachers so taking away the burden of doing their own research about the allergy is appreciated and gives them something to refer to throughout the year.

3.  If the school does not already do so, create a bright, colorful poster with a picture of your child on it, what they are allergic to and the steps to take if a suspected reaction occurs.  Consider making several posters for the office, the staff room and any classroom your child will be in.  This is one situation where it is okay for your child to stand out; it may save their life.  Dorm rooms and offices where allergic adults are should be considered for this as well.

4.  Now is the perfect time to ensure that your epi pens are up to date, any antihistamines required are stored with the epi pen and instructions have not worn off the side of your epi-pen. 

5.  If you do not yet have an alert bracelet or necklace for yourself or your child, now is the time to get one.  If you don’t want to get a medic alert brand bracelet, you can find what you need at your local jewellery store and have it engraved as to your medical condition.  If you already have a bracelet, check that any engraving has not worn down and is still readable by emergency personnel.

6.  Do you have any old epi-pens or an epi-pen trainer?  If not, get one.  This is the time to refresh yourself on the use of the epi pen at the same time as teaching any new people in your or your child’s life from teachers to daycare providers and bosses to friends.

7.  Make sure your child is well prepared.  For us, this meant a lot of instruction on hand washing and setting ground rules for not sharing food, etc.  Include them in their choices of safe treats that will be kept at the school so they always know they’ve got something yummy should an unexpected food event occur, like another child’s birthday.

8.  Speaking of hand washing, make sure that your school has appropriate soap and towels (we had to get the school board to put up liquid soap dispensers) and that your child always has ready access to running water with ample supplies.  Hand washing before eating is much easier to control then having all surfaces washing consistently.

9.  Be prepared to be involved at school with everything from baking/bringing safe treats for parties to field trips and participating on the Parent Council.  It’s time consuming but worth every second.

10.  Finally… be good to yourself.  Worry and sleepless nights take their toll on not only you but your allergic child.  Take the time to spend extra time with your allergic child doing something fun just for the two of you; you’ll be glad you did.

Do you have some of your own tips?  Be sure to add your comments.

In a previous post, I shared our family’s experience with Applebee’s in Minot, North Dakota.  If you haven’t read it, you can go to the blog post at http://www.nonuttin.com/blog/archives/349.

The bottom line is that our server at Applebee’s, Jennifer, essentially ran back and forth between our table, the kitchen, and her manager asking questions, checking with the head chef, checking ingredient labels and truly taking our family’s 6 food allergies seriously.  And she managed to actually serve us with a smile at the same time.

So we tipped her 30% of our bill.  We often tip quite large but this was large, even for us.  Some people might think that service of this sort should be the norm, and even if that’s true, it’s not what we run into on a regular basis.  So to me, tipping far more than the norm is part of my dining out strategy.  While I have no proof that this dining out strategy works, here’s my justification: Read more »

I’m here to tell you a secret;  traveling is not all glamor.  Hard to believe, isn’t it?

I remember when my kids were little and my husband had to travel for work conferences.  I’d be exhausted when he came home and he had the nerve to be exhausted too!  How could that be when he’d had a hotel to go to sleep in, meals provided, banquets to attend, no children to wake him up in the middle of the night, no carting the kids back and forth between childcare plus work?  Now, I’ve discovered why as the shoe is on the other foot.

Because it is my company that I travel for, no one is planning my dinners for me at lovely restaurants when I’m away.   And, like many of you with food allergies and intolerances, I cart my own food with me so that I can eat safely and healthfully and try to book hotels with a microwave and fridge wherever I can.  I’ve been traveling so much in the last 3 months that I haven’t spent more than 10 days at home at a time.  At one point, I looked out of my plane at the city beyond and forgot where I was (Vancouver)!

So you might ask, why do I do it?   Here are the things that keep me going:

The eleven year old boy at the Canadian Celiac Association’s National Conference in Winnipeg who mowed through all of our samples once his mom had determined all of our products were safe for his Celiac disease, peanut allergies, egg allergies and dairy allergies.  What a smile on his face and his mom’s too!

The lady at Choices gluten free fair in White Rock who found out we’re free of sulfites and dairy.  She told me that she was in love with our company. 

The store owner who came up to our booth at the Canadian Health Food Association’s Expo West who said she can’t keep our Energy Explosion trail mix on the shelf, people love it so much.

The lady who’s been a customer for years who introduced herself at the Celiac Disease Foundation’s Annual Conference in Los Angeles in May.  It felt like I was meeting an old friend.

But it’s the same in all that we do isn’t it?  We handle all of the education and anxiety necessary to deal with our family’s food allergies and at times it can be really overwhelming.  We plough on, sometimes just putting our heads down and marching ahead because it’s really all we can do.  But then we get those moments of bright light; that small thing that may not mean much to someone not in our shoes but can mean the world to us.  A new safe product, a medical situation handled well, excitement over finding someone else who really “gets it”.

Small things – they’re really what makes the world go round.