April 2015 Newsletter

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FDA hosts workshop for discussing celiac disease drug approval

GREAT3: Gastroenterology Regulatory Endpoints and the Advancement of Therapeutics

test tubes
Maintaining a strict gluten-free diet is the only known treatment for celiac disease, but it presents a variety of health and social challenges. For example, dining in restaurants and food service settings such as college can be risky, difficult, socially awkward and isolating. A number of pharmaceutical companies are developing treatments for celiac disease to make it easier and safer to maintain a safe gluten-free diet. Several of the drugs currently in clinical development will be applying for FDA approval within a few years. The FDA is gearing up to be ready to assess their safety and efficacy.

On March 31st the FDA hosted the GREAT3 workshop, inviting scientists, celiac medical experts, pharmaceutical representatives and patient representatives to present and discuss the issues the FDA will face. The purpose of the workshop was to provide a scientific and technical forum to consider issues related to the selection of endpoints and clinical outcome measures appropriate for drug development in celiac disease. It was also an opportunity for the FDA to give feedback to the drug companies and explain the FDA's approval process.

CCFNC board member Pamela Walton and I attended the workshop and were impressed by the FDA's commitment to fully understanding the complexities of the topic and communicating with the pharmaceutical industry, celiac experts and the patient community. All of the presentations were interesting and informative; they are available online (the first day of the workshop was on IBD and the second on celiac disease). The FDA also plans to publish a transcript.

When the FDA conference ended, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness hosted a webinar with a panel of guests discussing and summarizing the day's events. The webinar will be posted on the NFCA archives page soon.

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Arsenic in Rice: Special Report on the Gluten-Free Diet

Kudos to the companies that

responded to our survey

What did you eat on your gluten-free diet today? A bagel, pancakes or toast for breakfast, a sandwich or pizza for lunch, stir-fry or pasta for dinner? Maybe a few crackers or cookies for a snack? These foods are all likely to contain rice (in ingredients like rice flour and brown rice syrup) and may contain harmful levels of arsenic, a known carcinogen. Children are even more vulnerable due to their size.

Consumer Reports is warning the public about arsenic in rice and calling on the FDA to set limits. Those of us on a gluten-free diet are at higher risk. Our special report gets you up to speed with facts, a brand survey and useful tips that you can use today. Three-part special report by Amy Burkhart, Jennifer Iscol and Vic Dolcourt.

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Ivy's Garden: Gluten-Free Frozen Chinese Entrees

By Vic Dolcourt

Of all of the world's great cuisines, Chinese has been one of the more difficult for the gluten-free consumer to find, both in restaurants (due to the ubiquity of wheat-based soy sauce and noodles) and at the supermarket. San Jose couple, Ivy Lau and Mark Ivey, the owners of Ivy's Garden Foods, have brought three authentic Chinese chicken entrees as close as the freezer section of your neighborhood Northern California supermarket. Read more

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Gluten-Free Special Event in Napa

April 25, 2015, 3-5pm

Please join us as we welcome Jax Peters Lowell, author of The Gluten-Free Revolution and Lena Kwak, CEO of Cup4Cup. We will meet in the Culinary Center of Whole Foods Market in Napa and enjoy refreshments, informal presentations, conversation and Q&A about living, cooking and baking gluten-free. Details and registration.

The event is co-sponsored by Whole Foods Market in Napa, Holt Paperbacks, and the Celiac Community Foundation of Northern California. Copperfield's Books will have a table selling copies of The Gluten-Free Revolution and Jax will be signing them. The event is FREE and open to the public, but space is limited, so please sign up in advance to reserve your spot. [Update 4/2 - We have five spaces left]

To register, please use the subject line "RSVP Napa" and send your name and the number of people in your party to info@celiaccommunity.org. You will receive a confirmation. Directions to Whole Foods Market in Napa.

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Gluten-Free Taste-O-Rama at Whole Foods in Campbell, CA

April 12, 2015, 11am - 3pm

Whole Foods Market Campbell is holding a Gluten-Free Taste-O-Rama on Sunday, April 12th from 11am-3pm. The event, which is free and open to the public, is an opportunity to sample a variety of gluten-free products throughout the store. There will also be a free drawing for a huge gift basket of gluten-free products. The Celiac Community Foundation of Northern California will have an informational table during the event; stop by and say hi! Whole Foods Market, 1690 South Bascom Ave, Campbell 95008. 408-371-5000. www.facebook.com/wfmcampbell

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Spring Cookbook Giveaway

Gluten-Free Baking Classics: The Heirloom Collection by Annalise Roberts

We are giving away a beautiful new cookbook this spring. Gluten-Free Baking Classics -The Heirloom Collection contains 90 timeless and culturally diverse favorites. It will help bakers to round out their repertoire of homestyle baked goods. While these might not be the recipes you typically look for when you first go on a gluten-free diet, they're the ones that eventually make their way onto many of our wish lists. And they're all designed to work each and every time you make them.

Annalise's cookbooks have been trusted mainstays in many gluten-free kitchens. As one of our members, Joan Leforestier, said, "The reason that I love her books is because the recipes are easy to make and contain ingredients the average kitchen has on hand."

HOW TO ENTER: Just send us a sentence or two describing a way in which the Celiac Community Foundation of Northern California or Camp Celiac has been helpful or had a positive impact on your life. Camp, website, support events, newsletter etc.

Send your entry to info@celiaccommunity.org with "Cookbook contest" in the subject line by April 30th.

If you are not already on our free email list, join it here .

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Participate in research for Sonoma State University by April 10th

A senior at Sonoma State University in the Sociology Department is seeking participants for a study about how the diagnosis of gluten sensitivity or celiac disease affects social life.

Eligibility:

* 18 years old or older

* Parent of children with Celiac Disease or Gluten Sensitivity are strongly welcomed (do not need to have a diagnosis yourself)

* You or your child has a diagnosis or strong notion that you need to be on a gluten-free diet

* Be willing to devote a 45-minute period of time to an interview that will be voice recorded only, to be later transcribed and find patterns - confidentiality is guaranteed

Compensation: Gluten-Free baked goods will be provided!

How To Participate:

Please feel free to call, text, or email me to set up an interview appointment! Taking appointments now, will meet in a place convenient for you.

I look forward to hearing from you!

I need to have all interviews completed by April 10th, 2015

Dayna McDaniel

Text/Call: (707)-217-6166

Email: mcdanied@seawolf.sonoma.edu

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Seed + Salt - New 100% gluten-free restaurant in San Francisco!

"Seed + Salt is Northern California chef-driven cuisine done clean - plant-based, organic, ethically & locally sourced, plus free of things that aren't always good for you like gluten, dairy, refined sugar, trans fats andGMOs." http://seedandsalt.com/

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Gluten Free Gourmet is now open in beautiful downtown Saratoga, CA

We are a dedicated gluten free, organic, bakery, cafe and market located at 14510 Big Basin Way #8.

We have sandwiches made with our fresh baked bread, from scratch soups that vary daily, fresh, organic salads and quiche. We also offer a variety of sweet treats with dairy free and vegan options. We make custom recipes for people with multiple dietary needs as well as special occasion and wedding cakes. We have cafe seating and will host private parties and events.

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Celiac Disease Foundation launches Gluten-Free Allergy-Free Marketplace

Underscoring its role as a leader in online tools for the gluten-free community, Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) launched the Gluten-Free Allergy-Free Marketplace, a new retail destination hosted on celiac.org.

Featured at celiac.org/marketplace, the Marketplace showcases products and services from companies that care about the gluten-free and allergy-free community, and have made a deep commitment to supporting CDF's mission of diagnosis, treatment, and a cure for celiac disease. The Gluten-Free Allergy-Free Marketplace allows consumers to browse by dietary preferences, including special medical, dietary, and religious requirements, and view product pictures, ingredients, and nutrition facts.

Marketplace users can connect with companies for coupons, discounts, and recipes, create shopping lists, and support CDF by purchasing products with a single click. CDF's Gluten-Free Allergy-Free Marketplace is the only comprehensive one-stop shop for alternative dietary needs. The Marketplace revolutionizes gluten-free shopping, making specialty foods, services, and products easily accessible to the public. Start browsing today! http://celiac.org/marketplace/

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Mariposa Baking - Spring offerings

Hot Cross Buns

Our hot cross buns are back just in time for Easter! These cute little buns are sweetly spiced, containing raisins and citrus. The buns are marked with the traditional cross on top. These are available fresh daily until Easter Sunday.

Torta di Ricotta

The Torta di Ricotta is our take on an Italian cheese pie. Lighter than a cheesecake and baked into a flakey crust, it's sure to delight those who crave traditional Italian pastries. This 6" ricotta pie is available daily in our cold case until Easter Sunday.

Apple Galette

One of our most popular desserts, this delicate apple tart is layered with organic apples. Surrounded by a flakey crust, this vegan cinnamon apple dessert is a subtly sweet dessert.

Get your gluten-free groceries delivered Tuesday - Friday with Good Eggs! There are plenty of the essentials and seasonal treats available on our webstand, like breads,cookies, whoopies and more!

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Events Calendar for April

Check out our monthly listing of support groups, events, classes and news in the greater Bay Area, Sacramento and Central California. Events Calendar

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Don't miss the only celiac disease and gluten sensitivity conference in California!

Celiac Disease Foundation's National Conference & Gluten-Free Expo

Join us May 2 and May 3, 2015, in Pasadena, California to celebrate our 25th Anniversary.

You'll receive the latest medical information surrounding celiac disease, hear from world renowned celiac disease experts, and get one-on-one support from dietitians and nutritionists to help you live a happier, healthier gluten-free life. This is an event you won't want to miss! Network with hundreds of people, including your favorite gluten-free vendors, authors, and bloggers, to support you and your loved ones and optimize your health. Visit http://celiac.org/get-involved/gluten-free-expo/ for more information.

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Send us your favorite doctors and dietitians

We are continuing to update our
physician list and dietitian list for Northern California. If there is a physician or dietitian who has been particularly helpful to you in diagnosing and treating celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, please send us their full name and the city in which they practice. Let us know if you have questions.

* If it's not easy to find them online, please include their contact info

* If you like, please tell us why you found them helpful. Your name and comments will not be published - it's just helpful to us in referring people as needed.

* At this time, we only provide listings for medical doctors (MDs) and registered dietitians (RDs)

* Our foundation supports evidence-based diagnostic tests and procedures. We list medical practitioners who use labs and medical practices that are used by celiac disease centers at major medical facilities.

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Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Join Our Mailing List!

Jennifer Iscol

President

Celiac Community Foundation of Northern California

P.O. Box 1506

Healdsburg, CA 95448

www.celiaccommunity.org

jiscol@celiaccommunity.org