Is This Thing On....?

Obviously the posting has been a little light around here lately... my apologies.  Multiple things are at play here.  First off, my family has grown and being a parent is my primary duty during my free time.  Secondly, I've now been Gluten Free and living with Celiac Disease for almost 4 years.  You learn a lot in 4 years, Gluten Free life just becomes easier.  Awareness (one of the goals of this blog) is at the highest level I've seen.  More and more GF products are on the market and gasp... the FDA might actually decide what it means to put a GF label on products soon.  It's good to be Gluten Free right now (if there is such a thing).

That being said, Gluten Free Raleigh can still be a place for getting information about being GF in this area.  There is still a lot happening out there and the newly diagnosed need this information.  I am in need of folks who are willing to put in some time and energy to keep it going though.  You are already living the life, why not share?

If you have any interest, please email me - glutenfreeraleigh@gmail.com.  Otherwise, you'll just be staring at old posts.  This "job" is best suited for the newly diagnosed as you still are hungry (pun intended) for information on Gluten Free living.

Reminder - Greater North Raleigh Celiac Support Group Meeting

Just a friendly reminder about this month's Greater North Raleigh Celiac Support Group meeting. The meeting is Thursday, September 15th at 7pm at Rex Hospital, Private Dining Room located in the rear of the cafeteria.

Our agenda includes: (a) Rose Waring (Rosie's Plate) generously donated her cookbooks to our group.  They will be available for you to peruse and select any in which you are interested.  (A "sharing" plan may be needed.)  (b) We have an offer to have "flu shots come to us" for our November meeting.  Give this some thought.  Medicare -no charge; Harris Teeter VIC card - $24.95.  (c) "Tasting Samples" from "The Celiac Cakery."   

 

We will not be meeting in October, due to a Rex Hospital scheduling conflict.

Please email Pat Berger to request more information about the group or if you are interested in attending this month's meeting.

You can also check out the Support Group's Yahoo Web page here.

Gluten Free Baking Class at Williams-Sonoma

Gluten-Free Baking Technique Class @ Williams Sonoma
August 28, 2011

We’ve partnered with BabyCakes, the award-winning New York bakery, for an introduction to gluten-free baking. We’ll demonstrate (and sample) some of their scrumptious recipes as we discuss the correct flours and other ingredients to use, plus techniques for making tender baked goods. Even if you can eat traditional baked treats, these makeovers will provide sweet inspiration. We’re pleased to offer complimentary technique classes at your local Williams-Sonoma store. Class sizes are limited. For specific times and more details, please see an associate.

There are 3 Raleigh area locations...
Triangle Town Center -(919) 792-2363
Crabtree Valley Mall - (919) 782-3145
Durham's Streets at Southpoint -(919) 484-1706

Smart Balance Aquires Glutino - Don't Mess With The Pretzels Please

Click here for a recent write-up from Forbes about the acquisition of Glutino Foods - maker of a wide variety of Gluten Free products - by Smart Balance.  My favorite Glutino product would have to be their GF pretzels - yum yum.  Hey Smart Balance - leave 'em alone please.

I'll let you read the entire article, but here are some interesting points I'd like to highlight...

1. Gluten Free market identified as a $2.5 Billion industry.  Projections more than double that to exceed $5 Billion by 2015!
2. Glutino's Gluten Free product sales have steadily grown 30% per year.
3. Three million Americans are estimated to have Celiac Disease - we know this fact.  The article goes on to say that analysts estimate another 40 million to suffer from non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance.  Wow.  Smart Balance, a company in the low-growth spreads business, apparently sees those 43 million American's as dollar signs.  Cha-ching.  Wall Street analysts now rate the stock (SMBL) a buy and predict a the price to double over the next 12 months.  Better hit e-Trade quick.
4. Glutino has 2011 fiscal year earnings (ending March 31, 2011) of $54 million.  That's almost 8 million bags of those $6.99 pretzels I spoke about earlier.

What are your thoughts?  Are more of these small Gluten Free companies getting ready to be "consumed" by other food industry giants?  

Click here for products currently offered by Smart Balance (all of which are Gluten Free).  You'll find their buttery spread and peanut butter at my house.

Glutino products can be found here.

Raleigh's Moonlight Bakery Closes

Raleigh's Gluten Free market has suffered another loss as Moonlight Bakery has decided to close.  Below is the message currently posted on their Web site.  Back in March, Rosie's Plate also closed.  I'd like to say thanks to Shanah who operated Moonlight since the fall of 2009.

We want to thank all of our loyal customers since the beginning.
Moonlight Bakery has decided to close it's doors due to the economic environment.
Remember to continue to share great Gluten-free foods.

Regards,
Moonlight Bakery, LLC Management

North Carolina State University Adds Gluten Free Dining Hall Options

Gluten free stations now available at Fountain Dining Hall

August 1, 2011 (Raleigh, NC) — Gluten free stations have now been added to Fountain Dining Hall at NC State University.  Gluten free stations were added to provide students with celiac disease, wheat or gluten allergies safe, alternative options at each meal.

Fountain Dining Hall features two gluten free stations.  Each station is labeled “Worry-Free Fare” and includes vanilla and chocolate soy milk, gluten free breads and muffins, and Rice Chex cereal. Students with celiac will have access to a toaster dedicated to gluten free bread only.

Gluten free entrees and sides are available at each meal in dining hall locations.  To find gluten free options , check the Nutrition and Allergen Calculator in the online menu section of University Dining’s web site or view the allergen board located in each dining hall.

“By adding alternative gluten free options to our largest dining facility,  Fountain Dining Hall, we can better meet the needs of our students with celiac disease, wheat allergies or gluten allergies,”  said Lisa Eberhart, registered dietician for University Dining.  “If students have questions or concerns about an allergy or intolerance, they can contact me directly.”

To learn more about University Dining, visit www.ncsudining.com.

If you feel you are suffering from a food allergy, please contact our registered dietitian, Lisa Eberhart, for an individual meeting. To make an appointment, call student Health at 919-515-7107 to schedule a free appointment. If you would like to speak with the dietitian call 919-513-5310, or email at lisa_eberhart@ncsu.edu. 

List of menu items & common allergens can be found here http://www.ncsudining.com/dining/nutrition/nutrition_chart.html.

Sample Gluten Free Product List for C Store can be found here http://www.ncsudining.com/dining/docs/C%20Store%20Gluten%20Free%20Product%20List.pdf

University Dining is a division of Campus Enterprises, the lead organization for retail and hospitality for NC State University. To learn more about Campus Enterprises, go to www.ncsu.edu/campusenterprises.

FDA Reopens Comment Period on Proposed Gluten-Free Food Labeling Rule

FDA NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 2, 2011

Media Inquiries: Siobhan DeLancey, 202-510-4177, siobhan.delancey@fda.hhs.gov

Trade Inquiries: Stephen King, 240-402-1407, stephen.king@fda.hhs.gov

Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

 

FDA reopens comment period on proposed ‘gluten-free’ food labeling rule

Rule would help by creating a uniform and enforceable definition

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today reopened the comment period for its 2007 proposal on labeling foods as “gluten-free.” The agency is also making available a safety assessment of exposure to gluten for people with celiac disease (CD) and invites comment on these additional data.

 

One of the criteria proposed is that foods bearing the claim cannot contain 20 parts per million (ppm) or more gluten. The agency based the proposal, in part, on the available methods for gluten detection. The validated methods could not reliably detect the amount of gluten in a food when the level was less than 20 ppm. The threshold of less than 20 ppm also is similar to “gluten-free” labeling standards used by many other countries.

 

People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. Celiac disease damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. About 1 percent of the United States population is estimated to have the disease.

 

“Before finalizing our gluten-free definition, we want up-to-date input from affected consumers, the food industry, and others to help assure that the label strikes the right balance,” said Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods. “We must take into account the need to protect individuals with celiac disease from adverse health consequences while ensuring that food manufacturers can meet the needs of consumers by producing a wide variety of gluten-free foods.”

 

The proposed rule conforms to the standard set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 2008, which requires that foods labeled as “gluten-free” not contain more than 20 ppm gluten. This standard has been adopted in regulations by the 27 countries composing the Commission of European Communities.

 

The FDA encourages members of the food industry, state and local governments, consumers, and other interested parties to offer comments and suggestions about gluten-free labeling in docket number FDA-2005-N-0404 at www.regulations.gov. The docket will officially open for comments after noon on Aug 3, 2011 and will remain open for 60 days.

Senators seek FDA's explanation on delay in gluten- free-labeling laws

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., asked the FDA for updates on when it will implement gluten-free-labeling regulations and demanded an explanation for the delay in enforcing such rules. "The regulatory uncertainty surrounding FDA's inaction has led to a proliferation of 'gluten free' standards and labels provided by 3rd party groups. This creates confusion for consumers, and hesitancy amongst producers on what their requirements will be," they wrote in a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg.

See full story here - http://mobile.foodnavigator-usa.com//Regulation/Senators-urge-FDA-action-on-gluten-free-labeling

Is Gluten Making You Sick?

Whole Foods Market - Raleigh Wade Avenue Location

Thursday, August 11th

Is Gluten Making You Sick? presented by Dr. Loan Huynh, DC

7:00 - 8:00 pm Free, Pre-Register

Did you know that 30% of Americans may be gluten sensitive?

Did you know that the majority of people with gluten sensitivity do NOT have symptoms?  Come to this insightful presentation and get the facts on gluten sensitivity and Celiac Disease! 

   

Dr. Huynh will discuss why gluten sensitivity and Celiac Disease are prevalent and why most people go undiagnosed.  You will also learn about cutting edge tests to detect gluten sensitivities, the dangers of gluten sensitivity if not detected, and what to do about it!

Dr. Loan Huynh is a Holistic Health Doctor and owner of Optimal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Raleigh.  She is board certified in chiropractic and also practices holistic medicine with an emphasis on nutrition.  Dr. Huynh helps a variety of people ranging from injured athletes to the chronically ill achieve and maintain a healthy and vibrant lifestyle.  

To learn more, please visit www.OptimalWellnessOfRaleigh.com

How Much Does The Gluten Free Diet Cost? One Man's Results.

I've never been accused of not being detail oriented or able to track something to the smallest degree, so I figured I'd put those skills into tracking what it actually costs to follow the Gluten Free diet.  I've never seen anyone do this sort of tracking before, so I'm curious as to how my spending habits stack up to others.  From what we know from studies, the average Gluten Free product costs nearly 250% more than it's gluten containing counterpart.  We've all paid $6 or more for a loaf of gluten free bread, right?  A case of Redbridge will set you back about $35.

Since January 1st, 2011, I've tracked EVERY purchase made by my family as it pertains to a labeled, packaged Gluten Free product.  It's not been fun nor easy, but I chalked it up to valuable research to share with you all.  See the chart below for monthly totals.  Keep in mind that I am the only member of my family required to eat Gluten Free, but that our household (2 adults and one preschooler) is entirely Gluten Free for my safety.  I don't consider myself someone who buys a ton of packaged food - we often strive to make meals from scratch with fresh ingredients.

Here are the results through June 2011 (click for bigger picture).

Gluten sensitivity can exist in non-celiac IBS patients

Australian researchers reporting in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found in a study that people with irritable bowel syndrome but not celiac disease can still exhibit a sensitivity to gluten. Slightly more than two-thirds of the patients in the small study reported after a week a number of issues, including severe pain and bloating, compared to the group that was fed a gluten-free diet.

Read more at celiac.com

Whole Foods Wave Ave - Gluten Free Vendor Fair This Saturday 11a-2p

Just a quick note that the Whole Foods Market located in Raleigh on Wade Avenue will be hosting a Gluten Free Vendor Fair this Saturday, May 14th, 2011 from 11am to 2pm.

There will be samples from UliMana Chocolate, Mary's Gone Crackers, Happy Tummy Baking Company, Old Mill Kettle Corn, Bigelow Tea, Num Num Sauce and more!

Saturday, May 14th
Gluten Free Fair

11:00 am-2:00pm Free!

It's our Gluten Free Fair! Tempt your taste buds with tasty treats! Lots of great products and local vendors. Try a variety of samples...all gluten free!

3540 Wade Ave
Raleigh, NC 27607 USA

Phone 919.828.5805

Store hours:
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. seven days a week.

North Carolina Governor Declares May Celiac Disease Awareness Month

Media Release

North Carolina Governor Declares May Celiac Disease Awareness Month for Second Year

Raleigh, N.C., USA, May 2, 2011 – The Gluten Free Raleigh Blog has announced Governor Beverly Perdue has declared May 2011 “Celiac Disease Awareness Month” in North Carolina for the second year. The Gluten Free Raleigh Blog and Pat Berger, leader of the North Raleigh Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) Support Group brought the petition to the Governor’s office regarding the awareness month.

Celiac Disease is a genetic autoimmune disease that affects one in 133 people in the United States. It interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food and can cause gastrointestinal and neurological issues, infertility, skin rashes and cancer. The only treatment for Celiac Disease is lifelong, strict adherence to a gluten-free diet.

Gluten Free Food Labeling Summit: May 4th, 2011 in Washington, DC

Hopefully by now, you've heard of the upcoming Gluten Free Food Labeling Summit being held on May 4th, 2011 in Washington, D.C.  The event, organized by 1 in 133.org, will feature the world's largest Gluten Free cake (13 feet tall) on Capital Hill in an effort to finally get the FDA to finalize what the term "Gluten Free" means on product packaging.  Wouldn't it be great if you could pick up a product that had the term "Gluten Free" on it and know exactly what that meant?  Kind of a no-brainer if you ask me.  But who am I - just some guy who must follow a medically required Gluten Free diet for life in order to be healthy due to my Celiac Disease.  It's not that important, right?  Wrong.

NFCA Webinar: 60+ Meeting the Needs of the Mature Celiac

60+: Meeting the Needs of the Mature Celiac

Join us for a Webinar on May 18

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/943219350

Announcing NFCA's Webinar, 60+: Meeting the Needs of the Mature Celiac, on Wednesday, May 18th at 1pm Eastern.

Join NFCA as Veronica Alicea, M.B.A., R.D., a well-known dietetic consultant in the celiac and gluten-free fields, leads an hour-long discussion on the increasing number of celiac diagnoses in the mature adult population during which she will provide expert advice for fellow dietitians on how to best care for this unique population.

Sponsored by Crunchmaster crackers, this webinar is free of charge and the only requirement is a working Internet connection!

Veronica will:
* Discuss the growing prevalence of celiac disease among adults who are 60+
* Address the unique needs of mature celiacs, such as diet compliance
* Offer tips on how best to adjust to a gluten-free lifestyle when diagnosed later in life
* And more!

Title: 60+: Meeting the Needs of the Mature Celiac
Date: Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Gluten Freely Deal Alert

Act by April 30th!  Visit Gluten Freely.com for more details.

$10 off orders of $50 or more  ~ Free Shipping  ~  Instant Savings of 10% - 20%

Examples include the following

• Buy 6 boxes of GF Bisquick for $26.94 (10% savings)
• Buy 6 boxes of GF Betty Crocker Brownie Mix for $24.79 (10% savings)
• Chocolate Chex for $3.19 per box (20% savings)
• GF Betty Crocker Cake Mix for $3.90 per box (15% savings).
• Free Shipping (Discount will be applied automatically at Checkout).
• $10 off your order of $50 or more (Discount will be applied automatically at Checkout).
• Trial Box - Save over $5 when you purchase your favorite gluten-free products packaged in an elegant gift box and receive a free Betty Crocker Red Spoon.
• All offers can be combined!

Harmony Farms 35th Anniversary Celebration - April 30th

Celebrating 35 Wonderful Years, serving the Raleigh community... We hope to see you all at this spectacular event.

Be sure to stop by for:

• Bags filled with goodies (While supplies last)
• Samples
• Product merchandise (buttons, etc).
• Several gift baskets given away by drawing.
• Chair massage will also be available.
• Additional savings on clearance items!!
• 20% off ALL purchases during the event!

Where & When
Harmony Farms - 5653 Creedmoor Rd, Raleigh
Saturday, April 30th
10:00AM-3:00PM

In Harmony,
Nancy & Steve Long, & Co-Creators

Quick Update From Happy Tummy Baking Company

Happy Tummy Baking Company is now available at the new North Raleigh Whole Foods. Happy Tummy's crusts, in addition to being gluten-free, do not contain yeast or any of the 8 major allergens.

The product is 12" round and can also be found in the freezer section at the Raleigh Wade Ave, Cary, Durham and Chapel Hill Whole Foods.

Maria Hopper
Happy Tummy Baking Company

Fake Gluten Free "Bread Man" Guilty; Receives Decade Long Sentence

In 1996, Paul Seelig and his young son set off on a trip to Cleveland, Ohio. At the urging of his 5 year old son, they were on their way to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At some point during the trip, Paul decides to take the scenic route through the Amish country of Ohio. Somewhere near Millersburg, Ohio, they see a sign for a farm/bakery called Risn' Bakeries. Even more intriguing, the company is offering an extensive array of Gluten Free products like bread and bagels, grown and baked right there. Paul and his extended family have a history of digestive diseases and eat wheat free/Gluten Free. Paul pulls in and meets with the owner of Risn' Bakeries, Jonas Jones. After a discussion, Paul and Jonas strike a deal where Risn' Bakeries will supply Paul's company Great Specialty Products with Gluten Free baked goods. Although Paul's company is not currently selling GF goods, he takes a typed letter from Jonas promising those goods at any point in the future and keeps it in his back pocket. Although it is often difficult because Jonas does not have electricity, email, phone, text messages, fax, Facebook, twitter, cell phone, internet or even an address other than SR 77, Paul and Jonas keep in touch over the years. They develop a routine where Paul sends emails and then waits for Jonas to ride in his horse and buggy over to Kinko's where he checks his email. Paul uses the email address risnbakeries@yahoo.com to reach Jonas.

Paul Seelig Trial Recap Coming Soon...

Ok, I definitely have a lot to say about the 2 week, 2 day Paul Seelig (Fraudulent Gluten Free Baker) Trial that concluded this morning.  I attended every day of the trial (except one).  My gag order has been lifted so look for the post very soon.  How's that for a cliff hanger?

In the meantime, here is an article from WRAL and another from the News & Observer (both of whom followed the trial pretty much the entire time).

Additionally, here is the statement I read in court this morning before sentencing from Judge Fox.  My intent was to speak for the victims in the case and for Celiac Disease suffers in general.  Hope I did you all justice.

Moonlight Bakery Update

Moonlight Bakery now has a bakery shelf available daily at the Dinner Savvy in Apex.  Call Dinner Savvy at 303-3119 for more information including store hours.

We will no longer be available for home deliveries. But we will still take orders throughout the month for pick-up at the store whenever we have our ON-LOCATION event once a month.  Be sure to visit us on Facebook or our Web site for those dates!

We are also beginning to make Cupcake Towers for birthday parties and other such events. We have just added some new products to our website as well. Please check them out and let us know if there are any other products you would like for us to work on.

Shanah,
Moonlight Bakery

Quick Update From Happy Tummy Baking Company

Happy Tummy Baking Company is offering a 10% discount on all pizza crusts sold at Whole Foods now through April 12th. The discounted price is $6.29/ crust. Happy Tummy's crusts, in addition to being gluten-free, do not contain yeast or any of the 8 major allergens.

The product is 12" round and can be found in the freezer at the Cary, Durham and Chapel Hill Whole Foods. It is available by request (temporarily not on display in the freezer but they have a supply in the back) at the Wade Ave. Raleigh Whole Foods. Not available yet at the new North Raleigh store.

Try it while it's on sale for a quick, easy meal and satisfy your pizza cravings!

Maria Hopper
Happy Tummy Baking Company

Gluten Free Hour On QVC

Not sure if you saw this or not, but the home shopping giant QVC had it's first hour long show dedicated entirely to gluten free products today. The show featured many gluten free products ranging from baked goods to crab cakes to cookbooks to snacks to ribs from Shane's Rib Shack.

Some facts I picked up on are below.
-more than 1500 of the cookbooks sold at $20 each according to the counter at the bottom of the screen.
-nearly 22,000 Boomi bars sold in a few minute segment (a sell out).
-over 7,000 crab cakes sold at about $7 a pop.

Overall, this was a pretty interesting show and featured some good tidbits and facts about Celiac and gluten free living.  QVC said they did the show due to high customer demand.  Anyone order?  I must admit that this is the longest I've ever watched a home shopping channel.  Has gluten free officially gone mainstream?

Gluten Free Cooking Class - March 24th @ Whole Foods Wade Ave

Cooking With Gluten Free Grains, with Jean Wright, Certified Health Coach

6:30 - 8:00 pm $5, Pre-Register

Are you looking for inspiration on ways to jazz up a gluten free diet, or just looking for new and delicious ideas to add more ancient grains to your menu?  Then this is the right class for you!  Join us for an intriguing workshop with Jean, where we’ll learn about the wide variety of gluten free grains available here at Whole Foods Market, how they are so good for you, and what to do with them.  She will discuss tips on selection, storage, and preparation of grains.  Jean will also share some recipes that are simple and delicious, and family-friendly, too! As an added treat, we will get to sample a yummy recipe at the end of class.

If you are moving toward cooking more gluten free meals, then you won’t want to miss this educational and delicious experience!

Jean, AADP Board Certified Health Coach and Speaker, is the founder and director of Health From Inside Out, a successful health coaching company located in Raleigh. She works with clients who are looking for balance in their lives, who want to explore new foods, gain confidence in their own cooking skills, reduce stress levels, and experience renewed vitality. To learn more, please visit  www.healthfrominsideout.com

Fraudulent NC Gluten Free Baker Update - Criminal Trial Begins March 28th

All Gluten Free and Celiac eyes will be on Raleigh very soon as the criminal trial against Paul Seelig, former owner/operator of Great Specialty Products, is scheduled to begin on March 28th, 2011.  If you are not familiar with the situation, please read the following posts for all the juicy details and history.  At a high level, the state of North Carolina has charged Mr. Seelig on at least 25 felony counts of Obtaining Property via False Pretenses arising from his fraudulent sales of fake Gluten Free baked goods to Raleigh area consumers in late 2009/early 2010.  Mr. Seelig has been charged with purchasing regular wheat baked goods and repackaging and reselling those goods as Gluten Free.  He has been jailed (in lieu of $1.5 million bail) on those charges since June 2010 while awaiting trial.

North Raleigh Celiac Support Group Meeting

Just a friendly reminder about this month's Greater North Raleigh Celiac Support Group meeting. The meeting is Thursday, March17th at 7pm at Rex Hospital, Private Dining Room, located in the rear of the cafeteria.  Member Thomas Munn, will talk to us about his newest flour and bread mixes.

Check your calendars for our April 21st meeting.  We will be touring Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse in  Morrisville.  Lee Tobin has the tour scheduled for 6:30PM - 8:30PM and will need to know the number attending in early April.

Please email Pat Berger to request more information about the group or if you are interested in attending this month's meeting.

You can also check out the Support Group's Yahoo Web page here.

Trying To Locate....

If you see your name in the list below, please email me as soon as you can.

Sonya and Frank McRoy
Ashlyn Bradshaw
The Palmer Family
K J and Liz Hill
Charles Cox
Salina Russel
Sheila McVeigh
Kelcey Beech

Whole Foods Market North Raleigh Location Opens Wednesday 3/16/2011

Attention all Whole Foods Market fans in Raleigh... A much needed second (and larger) location which has been in the works for nearly ten years will finally open on Wednesday, March 16th, 2011.  I've been following this story since September 2008 when a neighborhood grassroots effort began the process of attracting the grocery chain to North Raleigh.  The store officially broke ground in February 2010 and is now ready to open.  The new store is located at 8710 Six Forks Road near the intersection of Six Forks and Strickland just south of the I-540 Outer Loop.

Gluten Free Raleigh Goes Mobile

The formatting around reading Gluten Free Raleigh on a mobile device has been an issue for me since getting my first smart phone nearly two years ago.  The entire blog loads into that little window and you must pinch & zoom just right to be able to see anything.  Unfortunately, the Blogger software behind this blog has not been very nice to those of you (including me) viewing GFR on a mobile device.  According to my Google Analytics for GFR, that's about 5% of my total pageviews so far for 2011.  Well, that has recently changed and I've been able to update GFR to use a new feature in Blogger to show a better format when browsing mobile.  See the picture for a preview or browse the blog from your smartphone now to see for yourself.  Hope this helps.

Sad Day For Raleigh Gluten Free Consumers: Rosie's Plate Closing Today

In some very sad news, Rosie's Plate will be closing today after serving Raleigh Gluten Free consumers since 2008. Rosie's Plate was a pillar of the Gluten Free community here in Raleigh and this move takes us back several steps.  See letter below from owner Rose Waring.  Thanks for all you've done over the last several years and best wishes.

March 4, 2011

Dear Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that Rosie's Plate will be closing today. For a number of personal reasons Emily and I have both decided that it's time to move on.

From students at Duke University to patients, visitors and employees at Rex Hospital and all the families in between celebrating birthdays and other special occasions Emily and I, and our wonderful staff, are so gratified to have the opportunity to help so many people.

Five years ago when we concepted Rosie's Plate there weren't many options for people on gluten free diets and even less for those that live with multiple food allergies but today as I look around I see many more choices. So, as I turn off the lights I feel a little better knowing that those with restricted diets are in a much better place today with an abundance of options out there.

We thank you for letting us into your homes these past few years and wish you good health and many, many wonderful meals ahead!

Take care,
Rose Waring

Juno Nutrition: Reference for the RTP Gluten Free

Introduction:
Zach has reached out to several of us with area Gluten Free and Celiac related businesses to do guest posts.  If you are interested, or have comments for him, please let him know.

I was diagnosed with Celiac disease in 2006, right before the birth of our first child.  Like, Zach, I have DH.  I'd had symptoms for over 15 years by the time I was properly diagnosed (that in itself is a painful story).  In 2009 I first met Zach and we talked about ways to make it easier to find GF foods.  Result #1 is below.

This map is put together from all of the area GF information that Zach has captured over the past several years, as well as data we've gathered from setting up maps at GF events at Whole Foods and Earth Fair.  Click on any of those locations in our system and you'll see the local menu.  You'll see which items are known to be gluten free and which are not, as well as how we sourced the information.

That's just the start.  We also make it easy to add new information, be it on packaged goods (like what you'd find at a grocer) or on prepared foods (like what you'd find at a restaurant) for anyone who is a registered member.  We've been focused on adding locations and products for the greater triangle area.  At this point we've got most of the information from Zach's site imported in, easy to search and posted to maps where relevant.

The site is now free for area users and we would greatly appreciate your feedback.  We took the name Juno Nutrition, for the Roman Goddess Juno, who was defender of the community.  Her epithet (your literary professor's term for slogan) was "Juno warns." 

Fred Lybrand
Founder - Juno Nutrition

Gluten Free Focus Group - UNC CH Study

My name is Kelsey Merlo and I am a student at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.  I am working on a class project for my business degree in the Kenan-Flagler Business School, and I was wondering if my team and I could enlist your help. 

We are hoping to complete a focus group to explore people's perceptions of gluten-free foods and the various competitors.  We hope to meet with a group of people (6-10) who have gluten-free lifestyles to discuss the different types of food available to them. 

We would be willing to meet at the Caribou Coffee in Raleigh (3300 Duraleigh Road, Raleigh NC 27612) on Thursday, March 3^rd at 6pm. 

As my team and I are a group of students, we are unable to provide monetary reimbursement for participation.  However, we would greatly appreciate anyone who is interested in participating, and they may contact me at the information below for any questions and/or concerns they may have. 

Additionally, if anything  is unclear or you have any questions and/or concerns, please let me know as well.  I greatly appreciate your thoughtful consideration of that matter.

Thank you,
Kelsey Merlo
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Kenan-Flagler Business School
Kelsey_Merlo@kenan-flagler.unc.edu
919.272.1134

Celiac Disease Research News

Since starting Custom Choice Cereal for a gluten-intolerant friend in 2009 there has rarely been a day where I didn't learn something new about celiac disease.  However, I am again and again amazed by how little is known about the triggers for celiac disease and why exactly it is on the rise, as research by Dr. Alessio Fasano from the University of Maryland's Center for Celiac Research indicates. 

I also like to stress that unlike many other conditions, a strict adherence to a gluten-free diet is an (the only!) effective treatment for the autoimmune disease. While that sounds stressful and can initially be overwhelming we like to look at the bright side of things: absolutely no medication is needed!

Researchers from the University of Chicago's Celiac Disease Center used mice to identify a biochemical interaction that may trigger an autoimmune reaction in the intestines of genetically susceptible people. Specifically, they found that the compound retinoic acid in combination with high levels of the a pro-inflammatory substance known as interleukin-15 was able to break the body's tolerance to gluten.

Want To Contribute To Gluten Free Raleigh?

Are you a reader of Gluten Free Raleigh that has always wanted to contribute a story or blog post?

Did you always wish that the blog would feature a certain topic you are particularly interested in but it never did?

Do you work for or own a local business that caters to Gluten Free consumers and you want to spread the word?

Are you tired of waiting so long for Zach to write about something?

If any of the above describes you, then keep reading.  In the interest of making Gluten Free Raleigh more of a community, I've decided to open up the content creation of this blog.  With this concept, more topics can be covered and the content can stay fresh.

Additionally, if you work for or own a local business that caters to Gluten Free consumers, contributing to Gluten Free Raleigh is the most direct form of marketing.  The blog has an established readership and receives thousands of page views each month.  You can speak directly to your customers!

Please contact me if you are interested by clicking the button below and I'll get you setup as a guest contributor.

New Whole Foods GF Bakehouse Light White Bread

I recently received word from Lee Tobin at the Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse that a brand new product is now available throughout the Southern Region.  The product has been in testing for quite some time (I had originally tasted this back in August 2010) but is now ready for prime time.  See more information below from Lee Tobin.

Our new Light White Sandwich Bread is now for sale in all of our South Region stores! This is a softer, lighter and dairy-free version of our regular sandwich bread. We have performed extensive R&D to formulate this bread with a longer shelf life, and a texture that stays soft at room temp. The slices are larger than our existing breads for making a fuller sandwich, and do not require toasting. We expect our Light White to become our most popular bread.

We are running an 2 week intro price of $3.99 that is $2 off the regular $5.99.

Be sure to stop in at Whole Foods and try this new bread out - especially while it is $2.00 off the regular price!  I'd love to hear your feedback on how you think it stacks up against either Udi's or Rudi's.  In case you didn't know, the Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse is located right here in Morrisville, NC.  It produces all the in house Gluten Free baked goods sold at every Whole Foods store throughout the USA.  Big thanks to Lee Tobin and his team for making such great, safe Gluten Free products.

Support Group Meeting Reminder - Solas

Support group meeting reminder, this Thursday, February 17th, Solas Restaurant Lounge and Rooftop, 419 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, 7:00PM - 9:00PM, for a g-f tasting.  RSVPs by tomorrow, Sunday, February 13th.  

While the hor d'oeuvres are complimentary, we will each be responsible for our individual beverage tabs. 

Thus far, we have 18 RSVPs.

Post Cereals Certified Gluten Free???

Check out this interesting and alarming blog from Jules Shepard.
http://blog.julesglutenfree.com/?p=566
It appears that Post has been a little misleading in their use of the term "Certified Gluten Free" for their recently reformulated Fruity Pebbles & Cocoa Pebbles.  Doesn't the use of that term infer that a third party is involved in the certifications?
Thanks to Jules for pointing this out.
What are your thoughts?

Happy Tummy Baking Company Expansion

Just wanted to post a quick update about Raleigh based Happy Tummy Baking Company. I was recently informed by owner Maria Hopper that the company's Gluten Free, allergen free frozen pizza crusts are now available at the Brier Creek Earth Fare in Raleigh.

New Blogger- Kristen!

Hello! I just wanted to post to introduce myself as one of the new bloggers for Gluten Free Raleigh! My name is Kristen, and I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease this past September. Having always been a foodie and loving to cook and go out to eat, I was at first devastated with my diagnosis. However, I have learned to not let being restricted to gluten free foods stop me. Instead, its become my hobby to find new restaurants that accommodate to gluten free, exploring and testing new gluten free products, and find new ways to make my old favorite foods taste just as good without the gluten (which is surprisingly not that hard, even though I am Italian and my world pretty much revolved around pasta, bread, and breaded things).

As I am new to the whole Celiac thing, my "focus" for the blog will be on converting life to gluten free in the Raleigh/Chapel Hill area- from locating new GF foods at grocery stores, to finding GF health/beauty products you can find around here (how is gluten in almost ALL of my old makeup, styling products, and medicines!?!), to seeking out new restaurants both with a gluten free menu and those with an extensive knowledge of safely preparing gluten free foods.

Additionally, my fiance and I are currently planning our NC wedding- completely gluten free! I will also be sharing our experiences with finding local venues that can accommodate, a gluten free wedding cake, etc.

I look forward to posting!

Reminder - Greater North Raleigh Celiac Support Group Meeting

Just a friendly reminder about this month's Greater North Raleigh Celiac Support Group meeting. The meeting is Thursday, February 17th at 7pm at Solas Restaurant Lounge and Rooftop, 419 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, for a gluten-free "tasting".  Carrrie Le Chevallier, Marketing Director for Hibernian Restaurants, has arranged this evening to familiarize us with their restaurant's gluten-free items.  (I think we are "tasting" appetizers.)  I do know some of our members have been to Solas, and it is a restaurant to which they return.  Pat will need RSVPs by Sunday, February 13th..

 

Carrie indicated parking on the street should be available at the time we are planning to be there.  Upon arrival, we are to check in with the hostess, who will direct us to our meeting room/area. 

Please email Pat Berger to request more information about the group or if you are interested in attending this month's meeting.

You can also check out the Support Group's Yahoo Web page here.

Raleigh CSA Support Group 1-20-2011 Meeting Recap

Special thanks to Gail for taking meeting minutes during the last North Raleigh Celiac Support Group meeting on 1-20-2011. Below is a recap for those of you that could not make the meeting.

Moonlight Bakery On Location February 11th

NHL All Star Weekend - Gluten Free Raleigh Style

As you may know, this weekend Raleigh will host the NHL showcase event All Star Weekend.  If you are from out of town visiting Raleigh, see some tips below to help you have an excellent Gluten Free weekend, Raleigh style.

Reminder - Greater North Raleigh Celiac Support Group Meeting

Just a friendly reminder about this month's Greater North Raleigh Celiac Support Group meeting. The meeting is Thursday, January 20th at 7pm at Rex Hospital (Private Dining Room in rear of Cafeteria). As always, the focus of our meeting will be information and discussion related to the newly diagnosed, which includes those "not so newly diagnosed" who are still struggling with the g-f diet.

This month's meeting will also feature a

Bloggers Needed

Obviously, I have not been able to keep up with blogging as much lately.  Things in my life have gotten more and more busy since 2008 and 2011 looks to increase that trend.  In addition, my comfort level with being Gluten Free has also grown to the point where the thirst for knowledge has leveled off.  I've pondered this many times since starting Gluten Free Raleigh in 2008 and have finally decided to open this blog up to other authors.  Being Gluten Free is being part of a community - a community that is always there for the newest members.  This blog has been a vehicle for that community to educate and spread awareness for Celiac Disease and Gluten Free living.  Rather than shut this blog down because I cannot pay it the attention is deserves, I've decided to take this step.  I will still contribute from time to time, but adding additional bloggers will allow for this blog to continue to serve its original intended purpose.  There is still much going on in this market and with Gluten Free living in general.  Anyone living GF will tell you it's still not easy.

If you are living Gluten Free in the Raleigh, NC area and are interested in sharing your experiences as an author on this blog, please send me an email.  I know there are many others out there who can pick up where I have left off and continue to spread the education and awareness that has come from this blog to date.

For those of you interested in joining Gluten Free Raleigh, you'll find a well established blog with nearly 300 subscribers and nearly 100,000 page loads in 2010.

Thanks for your time and it has been a pleasure being a blogger for you.