•New or updated apps:
- The Gluten Detective (less than $3USD) version 1.0 by Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. The app description states that it is designed as follows: “Gluten Detector tool helps you read labels and identify gluten-containing ingredients, FAQs on food labeling, gluten, celiac disease, and more. Create your own shopping list and e-mail it to friends or family. Tips on gluten-free grains, avoiding cross-contamination, and more. Link to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Find a Registered Dietitian.”
- Gluten Free Registry: version 2.0 under $2 USD by Gluten Free Registry LLC compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Claims to list over 26,000 business locations in North America (with over 24,000 of those in the USA) including restaurants, bakeries, coffee houses, grocers, caterers and more. There is also an Android version 1.2 available at the same price point.
Read on for rest of update…
•Beta website: Out of Texas comes Locate Special Diet by ATXglutenfree (Jessica Meyer) (app to come later): This beta site currently lists 25,000 businesses in 26 cities around the US, with the main coverage being in TX as the site developer is Austin based. Author “Chef Jess” or “Chef Jessie” as she calls herself, noted she has pursued an undergraduate degree in Nutrition Science and a Master’s program in Human Nutrition Science. Her personal experience living gluten free has propelled her to focus on this Locate Special Diet project.
•Changing Clinical Picture of Celiac Disease: Did you know that the clinical picture of age of diagnosis of celiac disease is changing? Clinicians are starting to report that the average age of diagnosis is now in the 5th decade of life according to Carol Rees Parish, MS, RD who is a Nutrition Support Specialist with the University of Virginia Health System Digestive Health Center of Excellence.
In a 2012 presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Oklahoma Dietetic Association, she noted that new screening tests estimate that approximately 1% of the total US population has Celiac Disease (CD). She also reported that it is estimated that 10-20% of siblings and 5-10% of newborn children of those persons may also have the disease. Overall, it is estimated that LESS than 10-15% of all persons with celiac disease have actually been diagnosed in the USA. In persons with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), the prevalence of CD is much greater than in the general population.
•Infant Feeding Suggestion: A suggestion from Carol Rees Parish concerning infant feeding: [protect infants] –wait until a healthy infant is between 4-6 months of age to introduce small amounts of gluten and this should be done while the mother is still breast feeding her baby.
•IBS study results noting successful treatment of certain cases utilizing antibiotic therapy: A May 2012 study published in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences echoed similar success to previous study work which addressed treatment of Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) through use of the pricey antibiotic rifaximin (one brand name is Xifaxan). Since not all persons with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) have this particular SIBO, it has been discussed that IBS may not be a single disorder as previously thought, but more likely is a complex disorder with multiple causes, which is why various treatments might be successful in some, but not all instances. Most likely a broad approach involving stress reduction, prudent fiber intake, elimination of gas-producing food items, possible use of probiotics, and appropriate use of over-the-counter anti-diarrhea type products such as loperamide (one brand name is Imodium), along with antibioic use in certain cases might provide needed relief for a number of persons living with IBS.
•Human Microbiome illustrated: The June 2012 issue of Scientific American has an interesting section on Your Inner Ecosystem and includes information concerning the bacteria which live in the human gut. The issue is well worth checking out, including the interactive Explore the Human Microbiome online feature.
•Gluten-free Labeling of Alcoholic Beverages: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued an interim policy ruling (TTB-Ruling 2012-2) released to the press on 24MAY2012 providing guidelines concerning gluten claims made on labels of Alcoholic Beverages. The ruling distinguishes between those products which were made from ingredients that contain gluten and are then processed vs those products which were made from originally gluten-free ingredients. In a nutshell, TTB has determined not to allow any products made from ingredients which originally contained gluten to then be labeled as gluten-free. This decision was made since despite processing to remove gluten per se, trace amounts of gluten may still remain in the product which may be undetectable based on currently available testing methodology.
TTB will allow products made from ingredients that do not contain gluten to be labeled as gluten-free only if the producer proves they are taking appropriate and adequate precautions to ensure against cross-contamination and introduction of gluten into the product during all processing.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still developing updated wording for FDA rulemaking on Gluten-free labeling overall and once they have done so, the TTB will revisit this interim policy to determine if the wording should stand as is or be revised.
•Many grocery stores are constantly updating their special diet products lists for their store brands, especially:
- Wegmans: Around the country, informed consumers are constantly looking for information on the products being sold under store and other brand names that qualify to be used when persons are following specific special diets. In our area, a supermarket chain which continues to grow its presence up and down the East Coast, Wegmans, pays particular attention to this consumer concern. They constantly update their Special Diet Product Lists for Gluten Free, Lactose Free, Gluten & Lactose Free, and Low Sodium Wegmans branded products. They urge consumers to always read the labels, but consumers can also check out their website when preparing their shopping lists in advance and then double-check labels once they get to the store.
- Kroger: Foods has a list of many products from various vendors that they stock which dates back to September 2011 that is posted on the www, however, you should always check labels since manufacturers can change ingredient labels at any time.
- Hannaford: markets offer the option to actually send a question about a special dietary need to a Registered Dietitian (RD) assigned to one of their stores or attend free nutrition demos or classes in their stores. Every Wednesday at noon, their online RD, Kris Lindsey, is available to chat on Facebook.
- Lowes Food Stores: of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia also offers a listing of Gluten Free Food and Beverages available under the Lowes brand in their stores.
- Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market: offers a variety of guides including a “Gluten-Aware Product Guide” list of products that carry which they believe are made “without gluten-containing ingredients.” They do urge consumers to always check any product’s food label when in one of their stores shopping. They also wisely note that “It is possible that sources of cross-contamination could be present within the manufacturing facility. ” Their other guides include Kosher, Organic, Sugar-Aware, and Vegetarian.
- Trader Joes: Has targeted product lists pertaining to the Trader Joe’s label assembled around themes such as “No Gluten” as well as Vegan, Vegetarian, Fat Free, Quick Meal, Kosher, and “Sodium” as they dub it; consumers also mentioned the handout is available in each store.
- Whole Foods: They provide a store specific gluten free shopping list available at the customer service desk.
•Supermarket Savvy is a firm which also sells a Gluten Free Brand Name Shopping List and you can see a sample from that list at their website. The entire shopping list was recently updated back in January 2012 prior to Celiac Disease Awareness Month in May.
•You can download or view online the pdf of the 2012 Complete Guide to Products, Companies and Manufacturers from the Gluten Intolerance Group which provides a Certified Gluten Free designation for products.