-
Ep 203 Catch Up with the Canadian Celiac Association
Let’s start the blog with the show notes for this Episode –
On this episode I speak with Melissa Secord, Executive Director of the Canadian Celiac Association to bring us up to date on recent relevant news items. We look more into how the CCA worked with the Ontario government to inform the Ministry of Health about the advantages of covering the cost of the celiac blood panel for the purpose of diagnosis, and the pilot program that has come from those efforts. Recently, a story about a celiac woman held in travel quarantine made the national news as she was denied a gluten free meal for 40 hours. The CCA got involved to help the woman and bring more awareness of this unacceptable situation. Melissa and I also talked about the labelling of “natural” products, including supplements, and natural treatments. Until now, these products did not require labelling that would identify sources of gluten and recently, the CCA has been working with Health Canada to change the regulations. You can find out more at www.celiac.ca/news-events/news/.
Sue’s Websites and Social Media –
Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com
Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com
Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com
My Thoughts –
Availability of safe food is something that the Canadian Celiac Association has been working on for many years. This effort takes many forms. Of late, the Save Me For Gluten Free campaign is working to establish local partnerships with food banks to ensure donated gluten free foods get to those who need them.
In years past the CCA has supported efforts from producers of oats to allow them to be labelled gluten free and considered safe for celiacs. Labelling regulations in Canada have been updated periodically, and the CCA has always been involved in the clarity of labels and identification of gluten sources.
The current issues of availability of safe food for a celiac in a quarantine hotel could not even have been imagined prior to the pandemic. Years ago, the issue of gluten free food for those in prison who required it, was solved, and to hear that referenced in a recent commentary on the subject as a comparison to a quarantine hotel is troubling.
What seems most concerning about the quarantine situation is that most commercial kitchens, restaurants and food suppliers are aware of gluten free. Although we research restaurants and avoid ones that can’t provide us a proper meal, it’s still worth noting that a great many restaurants have something, if even a simple salad or plain chicken to offer us. The idea that a contract for the “securing” of travellers would include food, but not take into account special diet requirements, is very much out of line with current awareness of the gluten free diet.
It’s curious to me as to why food cannot be brought in from local restaurants to meet special needs. Most of us are aware of the options in metropolitan areas to order in safe gluten free food. We know more specifics than those working in food service. As well, not allowing food to be brought in from friends of family just makes the policies more extreme. Clearly, the quarantine policies were not as well thought out as any other event that serves food.
As an individual, there isn’t much I can do to voice my concerns, but with the support of the CCA, I can be part of a letter writing campaign to make a real difference. Thanks again CCA.
-
Ep 202 CCA Holiday Guide 2021
Let’s start the blog with the show notes for this Episode –
The Canadian Celiac Association has once again produced a Holiday Guide with great recipes and tips to help us cope with our festive holidays in a Gluten Free safe way. Nicole Byrom RD, from the CCA goes through the different articles in the guide and I’m able to tease out a little information from each section. If you are not already on the CCA mailing list, you can download a copy of the guide at – celiac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021-CCA-Holiday-Guide.pdf
Sue’s Websites and Social Media –
Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com
Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com
Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com
My Thoughts –
This is now our second December and Holiday Season living under the dark veil of the Covid-19 pandemic. If you’re anything like me, you’ve said to yourself at least a few times – “I already have celiac disease, and now this!” I cope well with the gluten free diet, but there are times when it feels like a burden. For most, those feelings lessen as they get more established with the diet.
Then come the Holidays when family and friends get together, to share good times and familiar foods. The good times, I’m fine with, but the familiar foods take a great deal of work to ensure safety. In my family, I’m not the only celiac, and for the most part everyone is on board with our needs. There will always be times when I feel like an island, all alone in my diagnosis, asking far too many questions about food.
As I said, I’m a well-adjusted celiac, but some situations are isolating. That brings me back to the pandemic (everything seems to these days). At the start of the pandemic we were all just learning about transmission and testing and masks and positivity rate, but there was a sense that we were all in this together. Politicians and health care leaders took up this slogan and tried to impress on everyone to do their part.
A newly diagnosed celiac can learn from great resources like the Canadian Celiac Association. It’s a steep learning curve, but slowly, we all climb the hill of knowledge. The more difficult sentiment to instill is the “we’re all in this together” belief. You may have other family members who are celiac and you can literally stick together to support one another, or you may not know other celiacs, or just have them as acquaintances. The CCA has, for many years, taken on the task of trying to unite celiacs around common issues, and one great way to do that is the Holiday Guide. The CCA has been sending out a holiday guide for as long as I can remember. There was always valuable information in the guide, but more importantly, it made me realize I was not going through these difficult social situations alone. If nothing else, the annual Holiday Guide lets us take comfort in the fact that “we’re all in this together”.
-
Ep 201 December 2021 Roundup
Let’s start the blog with the show notes for this Episode –
It’s the beginning of the month, and that means I get to talk with my friend Ellen Bayens about the topics, studies and interesting articles regarding celiac disease and the gluten free diet featured on her website. For more information visit theceliacscene.com and sign up for Ellen’s monthly newsletter.
1900 Gluten-Free Families Care & Share in Private Group – Ask to Join
Migraines More Common Amongst Celiacs
New Research Identifies Who Should be Offered Testing for Celiac Disease
Gluten-Free Hazelnut Torte Taking Costco Shoppers by Storm!• Join Selena for Instagram Questions & Answer Sessions every Tuesday
• Join Selena’s Symptom Relief Facebook Group• Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet Virtual Class Calendar
• Purchase a Gift Certificate for a Gluten-Free Cooking Class!GLUTEN-FREE PRODUCTS & SERVICES • Order Your Basket of Beautiful Wise Bites’ Baking
• Cocoabeans Gourmet Gluten-Free Mixes – Now Available Online!
Hazelnut Torte from Trump Foods sold at Costco in Victoria Sue’s Websites and Social Media –
Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com
Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com
Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com
My Thoughts –
Those of us living in Ontario have something to celebrate. The CCA has worked hard for many years to educate the powers that be in the Ontario government regarding the coverage of celiac screening tests. Ontario is the only province in Canada that does not cover the costs of the accepted blood testing for celiac disease. There have always been exceptions to this rule, and they mostly included testing done from a hospital emergency department and some other hospital services.
The result of not covering the costs of celiac testing in Ontario was that doctors legitimately saw the celiac bloodwork as something out of the ordinary, and even if they suspected celiac in an initial consultation with a patient, more likely than not, the physician would send the patient for a series of other tests covered by OHIP, before going outside of that bubble with uncovered bloodwork. To add to this, was the discussion the doctor would have with the patient about the cost of the test. Maybe to some it wouldn’t be a problem, maybe some had private insurance that covered it, but there would always be some patients who would turn down the test, because they simply couldn’t afford it. Clearly this put the physician in a difficult situation, and creates a difficult path to diagnosis.
Currently, there is a six-month pilot program underway in Ontario to cover the cost of celiac testing. Our job, as those in the know about celiac testing, is to encourage anyone in Ontario who may require celiac bloodwork, or someone in a family who opts for periodic testing because of a higher risk.
To this point, with me and my oldest daughter diagnosed, my younger daughter is tested periodically. She was due for a re-test. A recent doctor visit highlighted the difficulty the government has in getting their message out. My daughter went armed with both the CCA website description of the new Ontario testing policy, along with the bulletin link provided on the CCA webpage. The doctor did take the time to read the information and was able to write the test requisition – phew! The blood test appointment has been made, so we’ll wait and see – oh yes, and she will be eating lots of gluten prior to the test, as I always inform others to do.