Ep 69 CCA Update & Promise Gluten Free
May is Celiac Awareness Month and I am pleased to be collaborating with the Canadian Celiac Association to produce podcasts to support their theme of “Beyond the Gut”. On this episode I speak with Melissa Secord, Executive Director of the CCA regarding their campaign during Celiac Awareness Month, along with new resources they are making available this month. Melissa also fills us in on a ground-breaking event taking place in Toronto later in May called “The State of Celiac Disease in Canada Leadership Forum”, during which experts, business people, government representatives and others who have an interest in Celiac Disease will come together to talk, learn and network. You can find out more on the CCA website at www.celiac.ca.
The second half of the podcast is a charming interview with Tom Doyle of Promise Gluten Free from Ireland. Tom talks to us about the care taken to develop and prepare their baked goods, and why Canada was a logical market for them. Here’s a link for more information – www.promiseglutenfree.com/
Sue’s Websites and Social Media –
Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com
Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast
Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
(search Sues Gluten Free Baking)
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com
Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com
My Thoughts –
Bread from Ireland? I remember the first time I heard about a bakery in Ireland wanting to export to Canada. As Tom mentioned, that was seven years ago (wow time flies). I remember thinking, what’s the point, we have some very good bakeries here in Canada. We don’t seem to be under-served. We can get some form of gluten free bread at most grocery stores. We’re good.
Are we? Yes, we are only 1% of the population, with a few more percentage points for those not diagnosed celiac, but still committed to the diet for their health, but do we need more choice?
While I mull over a question like this, I think about the “wheat world”. Do they import baked products from other countries to satisfy their tastes? Yes, they do! Do they want a variety of bread formats and styles? Yes, they do! Do we deserve to have a choice from a larger selection of products? Yes, we do!
I’m a fan of many of our Canadian gluten free products, and I often feature them on the podcast. But that shouldn’t be to the exclusion of other gluten free foods. I live near the US border and find there are gluten free foods in US stores that I really like and will shop for when given the opportunity. When I’m in the US, I regularly see many of our Canadian brands on store shelves and that makes me happy. Everyone gets more variety and choice.
Why shouldn’t we welcome good gluten free from anywhere it makes sense to import it from? Thanks to better awareness and diagnosis, there is a strong market for gluten free foods. We are the beneficiaries of that. It all comes down to us being a voice that’s being heard by business, government and medical professionals. Thanks, CCA for helping us with our voice, and thanks to all those innovative gluten free food manufacturers for giving us great choices.