Gluten Free News

Click here to see the National Celiac Association's [our parent organization] update on Covid-19 as it relates to those who have celiac disease.  

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What to do if a person with celiac disease tests positive for COVID-19
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The CDCTrusted Source currently recommend those with mild COVID-19 symptoms stay home to treat their symptoms. Ideally, a person with celiac disease and COVID-19 can stay at home and recover.
If a person with celiac disease does require hospitalization and can eat, they must notify the hospital that they have celiac disease and need a gluten-free diet.
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires hospitals to provide gluten-free foods. However, hospitals may have limited food options, given food shortages and transportation concerns due to COVID-19.
However, many hospitals offer gluten-free foods as a standard part of their menu. These include:

• baked potatoes
• most pre-packaged meal supplements, such as Boost or Ensure (make sure the label states ‘gluten-free’)
• plain, hard-boiled eggs
• plain protein sources, such as chicken, fish, or red meat
• plain rice
• vegetables
• yogurt

Choosing these foods at the hospital while a person is recovering from COVID-19 can help a person manage their celiac disease.

Outlook 
Doctors and researchers are continually gathering data about COVID-19, including its incidence and recovery.
As more information becomes available, researchers may be able to identify if there are links between the COVID-19 and celiac disease, especially when it comes to mortality and disease severity.

Summary 
Researchers are collecting information about the incidence of COVID-19 in people with certain medical conditions, including celiac disease.
Maintaining control and preventing active celiac disease, as well as taking preventive measures against COVID-19, can be a person’s best chance to maintain their overall health.
Anyone with celiac disease that thinks that they may have developed COVID-19 should call their doctor or hospital before going in-person. Their medical facility can direct them as to which steps to take to receive a diagnosis and treatment.

Gluten in Medications Bill

The National Celiac Association helped develop the language of a Bill proposed to the Congressional floor on April 3, 2019.  H.R. 2074, The Gluten in Medicine Disclosure Act of 2019 was introduced by Representatives Tim Ryan (D-OH) and Tom Cole (R-OK).  If passed, this Bill will mandate that gluten be labeled on medications, helping all those in the gluten-free community.
Please support this Bill by calling or writing to your local representatives. For more information, visit congress.gov.  ​​

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Article Archives

• Sept 25, 2020: Study on Cross Contamination of Gluten Free French Fries when Cooked in a Non-dedicated Fryer: https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/news/you-dont-want-fries-with-that/
• Sept. 8, 2020: Study - Unique antibody profile sets gluten sensitivity apart from celiac disease: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/cuim-uap083120.php
• August 20, 2020: Celiac.com summary of recent podcast with Dr. Murray addressing rise in celiac disease and covid risk factors: https://www.celiac.com/articles.html/podcast-with-dr-joseph-murray-explores-rise-in-celiac-disease-cases-and-covid-19-risk-factors-r5267/
• August 14, 2020: See Celiac Dietitian Tricia Thompson's summary of the FDA's (new) final rule on gluten-free labeling of fermented or hydrolyzed foods. This adds compliance requirements for fermented, hydrolyzed, or distilled foods and ingredients.. - https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/news/fda-publishes-final-rule-on-gluten-free-labeling-of-fermented-or-hydrolyzed-foods-the-basics/​
• April 8, 2020: Research pinpoints rogue cells at root of autoimmune disease
• ​March 24, 2020: Here is a link to a recent important "Ask the Dietitian" from the National Celiac Association about getting gluten-free food in the hospital.​​
• Feb. 28, 2020: Study Confirms Celiac Disease Can Damage the Brain - https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-02-celiac-disease-brain.html
• October 9,2019: Analysis of New Study on Cross Contamination Risks in the Home and at Restaurants and Deficiencies of the Study by Beyond Celiac and here are celiac dietitian, Tricia Thompson’s comments on the same research.
• Sept 13, 2019: Analysis of responses from 500 patients with Celiac and NCGS reveal neurocognitive and quality of life problems with accidental gluten exposure including spatial problem solving, detachment, depression, anxiety, irritability, low energy, impaired speech and problems with sleep, memory and orientation to time and place.
• June 28, 2019: Study finds micronutrient deficiencies common at time of celiac disease diagnosis
• June 5, 2019: A Potential New Biomarker for Diagnosing Celiac Disease in Patients Not Consuming Gluten is Patented
• May 4, 2019: Researchers from the Mayo Clinic "Recruiting" Microbes to Fight Autoimmune Diseases
• April 30, 2019: New insight into the nature of gluten cross contact and it’s prevalence in oats: Article in Annals of Gastroenterology and Digestive Disorders: Oat Consumption by Celiac Disease Patients: Outcomes Range from Harmful to Beneficial, Depending on the Purity of the Oats​
• Nov. 29, 2018 - Patients with Celiac Disease Can't Rely on Symptoms to Determine Whether They Have Been Exposed to Gluten - https://www.healio.com/gastroenterology/malabsorption/news/online/%7B80aad70a-f6df-4e87-a348-ec3b523f312b%7D/patients-with-celiac-disease-have-trouble-determining-gluten-exposure-based-on-symptoms
• ​Nov. 5, 2018 - Fantastic Reference Chart from the National Celiac Association - Confusing Ingredients in the Gluten-Free Diet - https://nationalceliac.org/celiac-disease-resources/confusing-gluten-free-diet-ingredients/
• ​March 15, 2018 - Significant Study Published on the Amount of Gluten Eaten by Folks with Celiac Disease on a Gluten-Free Diet with Surprising Results​: Alarmingly, those adhering to a gluten-free diet were still unknowingly ingesting, on average, more than 3-7  times the author's contention what they considered safe for adults with celiac to consume (50 mg/day).
• March 8, 2018 - Infections in Early Life and Development of Celiac Disease​​

Video Letter from Tricia Thompson, MS, RDN of GlutenFreeWatchdog.org to FDA regarding her concern with enforcement of the FDA gluten-free label rule and several products that are currently misbranded as gluten-free right now.

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• Jan. 26, 2017 - Gluten Free Watchdog has a BIG new watch out for gluten-free oats - see what questions you should be asking for any oats you consume, even for purity protocol gluten-free oats  From the article "Choose your oat products based on your comfort level with regard to the level of information provided to you by manufacturers. You may want to consider the following:
  - Does the manufacturer disclose whether they use purity protocol or sorted oats?
  - Do they disclose their testing protocols?
  - Do they disclose the assay they use to test oats for gluten contamination?"
• Jan. 26, 2017 - From Gluten Free Watchdog, a teff brand manufacturer is raising concerns with their high cross contamination levels.​

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