A Canadian Celiac Blog

Happy May, Celiac Awareness Month!

At the beginning of each month, I speak with Ellen Bayens of theceliacscene.com to discuss articles, studies and topics of interest Ellen has presented to us over the past month. Of great concern to consumers in general, and gluten free consumers in particular, is the rising cost of food. In an effort to bring our unique perspective on these issues in front of lawmakers, Celiac Canada held a breakfast event on Parliament Hill recently. There are many aspects to the CCA message including the emphasis on the gluten free diet costing up to five times as much as gluten food, the unworkable tax relief that is not an effective solution as well as the lack of nutritional fortification in our gluten free processed foods.

Dr. Peter Green debunks six common myths of celiac disease. I found this particularly fascinating, as science will always win out these emotionally charged discussions. Ellen also brought us an article on new guidelines for physicians to diagnose and treat their celiac patients. Selena DeVries RD shares valuable information about over-the-counter allergy medications as well as her advice on digestive enzymes.

Ellen has done it again – she’s found new foods in her area. She not only found a cafeteria-style build your own pizza place, but also gluten free waffle cones.

Here are links to the articles we spoke about –

NEWS FROM THE CELIAC SCENE

• The Struggle is Real. The Rising Cost of Gluten-Free Food
• Experts Bust 6 Common Myths about Celiac Disease
• Updated Guidelines for the Ongoing Care of Celiacs
• M&M Angus Beef Burgers Subject to CFIA Recall – Gluten

SELENA’S CORNER

• Digestive Enzymes – Yay or Nay for Celiacs?
• Over-the-Counter Gluten-Free Allergy Medications – Adults & Children

GLUTEN-FREE PRODUCTS & SERVICES

• Introducing Pure Lovin’ Chocolate Vegan, Gluten-Free Waffle Cones
• MOD Pizza Scores a Double Header on Vancouver Island

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.comOther Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com

On this episode I speak with Dr. Dan Leffler who is heading an international study to trial a medication for celiac disease. The medication is TAK-062 and the trial is called Illuminate-62. The trial is looking for individuals who are confirmed celiac, eating a gluten free diet, but still experiencing symptoms. At the time of our conversation the study has yet to launch in Canada, but when it does, Celiac Canada will have the information on their website www.celiac.ca.

You can find out more about the trial at –

ILLUMINATE Study – Home

Celiac is seriously exhausting restrictive time-consuming frustrating isolating . Celiac is seriously exhausting restrictive time-consuming frustrating isolating . Maybe one day it won’t have to be. See If You May Qualify Clinical research studies for those with celiac disease The ILLUMINATE Studies are looking to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of investigational medications for celiac …

Takeda launches the Illuminate-062 Study, a Phase 2 clinical trial of a medicine designed to help improve control of celiac disease | BeyondCeliac.org

Kate Avery, MPH, Director of Research & Patient Engagement Takeda Pharmaceuticals recently launched the Illuminate-062 Study , a Phase 2 clinical trial to study TAK-062, a gluten digesting enzyme, as a potential treatment for celiac disease . The trial is taking place in the United States, Canada and Europe, and is currently enrolling participants.

and for more technical information at – https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05353985

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

As part of my Back To Basics Series, I speak with Ellen Bayens of www.theceliacscene.com to find out some of her best strategies for dining gluten free safely. Ellen is well known as an expert in advising celiacs where and how they can eat safely as well as a resourceful advisor to restaurants to help them serve gluten free safely. Ellen walks us through the questions you should be asking and what some of the red flags might be, and when it’s best to not eat at a particular restaurant. We chat about different cuisines, the format of menus and even the different terms used on a gluten free menu.

Here’s the link to Ellen’s post for more information –

How to Order a Gluten-Free Meal

Communication is the key ingredient to every successful gluten-free restaurant meal. When diners, chefs and servers are able to collaborate on what is required and what can be reasonably delivered, there is cause for celebration! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION OF QUESTIONS TO ASK! But where to begin?

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

In the first of my Back to Basics Series, I speak with Registered Dietitian Selena DeVries about Cross Contamination. From the time we first hear about the gluten free diet, we try to absorb the concept of cross contamination and how to avoid it. Selena walks us through our kitchen setup, bakeware, pots and pans, and even shopping at a bulk food store.

My big take away – Gluten Can’t Jump!

You can find Selena on Instagram @celiac_dietitian.

Her new website is coming very soon at SelenaRD.com

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

In preparation for Celiac Awareness Month in May, I thought it was a good time to find out what’s been happening rcently with Celiac Canada. The organization is celebrating its 50^th birthday this year and along with events in May, there are lots of opportunities to learn and get involved.

To raise awareness of economic issues and the under-diagnosis crisis, Melissa will be on Parliament Hill for a breakfast event on May 30^th in an attempt to capture the attention of our Members of Parliament. Gluten free food fortification and the upcoming grocery rebate are all topics up for discussion.

Good news has come through from the Province of Ontario that going forward the blood test for celiac disease will now be covered under provincial OHIP.

Julie tells us about Webinar Wednesdays during May, and an opportunity to “Ask the Expert” at the Gluten Free Garage at the end of May in Toronto.

Lots is going on during the month of May including light up events across Canada, along with meetings, meals and informal get togethers. To find out more you can go online to www.celiac.ca and look up events.

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

It’s time for the roundup chat with Ellen Bayens of theceliacscene.com. May is Celiac Awareness Month and Ellen and I start things off with a call to help spread awareness. It can be as simple as a conversation with those around you, or you can attend an event that might be happening near you. You can find out more about Celiac Canada’s plans on their website www.celiac.ca.

Ellen brings to our attention a study in Italy of school children to help identify more celiacs at a young age. The interesting thing here is that the initial testing is done with one drop of blood, then children who are positive go on for further testing. Sounds simple and hopefully this test can be used more widely in the future. Ellen brings us up to date on the current practice of diagnosing and managing patients with refractory celiac disease – a condition that does not respond completely to the gluten free diet.

Covid-19 vaccines have been controversial, but what was understood is that the celiac population responded similarly to the overall population with the vaccine. A recent study showed that unvaccinated celiacs are more likely than the general unvaccinated population to be hospitalized and suffer more ill effects.

Ellen made a discovery at Walmart! Walmart is selling the Schar brand of gluten free foods, but what Ellen found at her local store was a treasure trove of all gluten free Schar foods brought into Canada. Different stores carry different products, and may place then in different aisles, but if you look, you may be richly rewarded.

During this month Ellen will oblige me by asking two questions on her social media – firstly, as a consumer would you like to see, in a grocery store, all the gluten free food together, or mixed in with the regular food in the separate aisles? And second, how do you feel about store brands of gluten free foods, cookies, pizzas etc., co-packed, marked gluten free, and with the store branding? Is this something you would purchase and support?

Hopefully, you’ll weigh in on our two questions and Ellen and I can discuss the responses at the beginning of May.

Here are links to some of the topics and articles we spoke about –

NEWS FROM THE CELIAC SCENE

Let’s Keep the Symptoms of Celiac Disease Top of Mind
High Prevalence & Under-Diagnosis of Celiac Disease Identified in Italy
Clinical Practice Update | Diagnosing and Managing Refractory Celiac Disease
Expert Asserts Unvaccinated Celiacs Twice as Likely to be Hospitalized with Covid
Be Wowed by What I Discovered at Walmart!

A CANADIAN CELIAC PODCAST

What is Tapas and is it Safe for Celiacs?
Gluten Free Certification Program
Cruising Gluten Free
Gluten-Free Baker on Wheels on ‘A Canadian Celiac Podcast’
Celiac News Round Up on ‘A Canadian Celiac Podcast’

GLUTEN FREE WEIGH IN

Aaron Diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Aaron has Corrective Surgery & his Celiac Disease Report Card

GLUTEN FREE RECIPES

• Real Foods Corn Thins Recipe Ideas

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

The conversation on this episode was, at first supposed to be a an opportunity for me to ask Cinde Little the Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet about her post regarding Spanish tapas. I will be travelling to Spain very soon, and it occurred to me that tapas are something I don’t know about, and for that reason will just avoid them. Reading Cinde’s post, I thought it was a good time to find out more about this local food and arm myself with information that would allow me to order tapas in a restaurant safely. I thought you might want to listen in as I get a lesson in making, ordering and eating tapas gluten free.

You can see all of Cinde’s recipes on her website https://everydayglutenfreegourmet.ca/

Facebook @ everydayglutenfreegourmet

Instagram @ everyday.gf.gourmet

Twitter @ littlecinde

Youtube @ Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet

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

When I was at the 50^th Anniversary kickoff for Celiac Canada I spoke with the Technical Manager for the Gluten Free Certification with BRCGS. His name is Barry Meikle and I had so many questions. On Episode 176, I spoke with John Murthy from BRCGS in London, so it was appropriate to now speak with Barry to get the Canadian/North American take on Gluten Free Certification. We talk about how the program works and what assurances you can get from purchasing products with the CCA Gluten Free symbol.

Barry mentioned the Product Finder on the CCA website, which is a listing of all products registered to carry the certification symbol. You can link to the Product Finder at https://www.celiac.ca/living-gluten-free/gf-product-finder/

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

I love to travel, and I love cruising. I am often asked about how to travel safely while eating gluten free – more often than not, my suggestion is to cruise. Deciding on a particular cruise does require a bit of research, and preparation, but in my experience cruising has been safe and exciting. My daughter Deanna recently came back from a cruise on a cruise line I was not familiar with. On this podcast she shares her experiences along with some practical advice on how to prepare and what to expect.

Here is the link to the Royal Caribbean Blog with current information on their gluten free dining experience.

Eating gluten free on Royal Caribbean cruise ships

For those with allergies and special diets, eating gluten free away from home can be a challenge. A Royal Caribbean cruise offers a stress-free option for those that need a gluten free diet. There are many choices for anyone that is looking for options that fit into their restrictions.

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

This is a fun podcast for me. I was introduced to Tanja Blondin by Ellen Bayens of theceliacscene.com. Tanja and I have much in common, both she and her daughter are celiac and Tanja loves to bake – so much so that after working in restaurants and bakeries for many years, she now has a gluten free baking business. In her vendor trailer, Tanja frequents farmers markets, vendor shows and other outdoor food events to sell her baking. Ellen did a nice piece on her with some great food pictures that you can find here –

bit.ly/Bglutenfreevictoria

You can follow Tanja on Instagram @Bglutenfreevictoria or access her website if you’re local and want to order ahead at https://bglutenfreevictoria.square.site/

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