The gluten-free diet is our only medicine.
We watched with interest the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health held in late September. One of the major findings released – by the first White House Conference on hunger in 50+ years – was the declaration that, for most Americans, food is medicine. There is overwhelming scientific evidence that poor nutrition contributes to dozens of diseases, including many cancers, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Everyone, including government and the food industry, has a role to play in changing this fact.
For the celiac disease patient community, this message resonates deeply. Today, food is our only medicine. We don’t have alternative treatments available when the gluten-free diet doesn’t work or can’t be strictly followed – and we suffer immensely. That is why, until an FDA-approved alternative treatment to the gluten-free diet is developed, the celiac disease patient community’s top concern is food.
This is why we hosted an educational webinar earlier this month for patients, providers, and the public with representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Coeliac UK, and the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS) to discuss gluten-free food labeling regulations and enforcement here in the U.S., and the differences between our labeling rules and those in Europe. This informative event hopefully instilled more confidence in the FDA’s procedures and processes to ensure the safety of food products that are labeled gluten-free. If you have not had the opportunity to view the webinar, you can do so here. If you have a question to submit, please do so at [email protected] and we will work to get it answered.
Our 2022 Virtual Turkey Trot Cross-Country Challenge is right around the corner – our biggest annual fundraiser helping to support the research, advocacy, and education that moves us toward treatments and a cure. Registration for the event closes on November 11th, and I encourage you to sign up, join the fun, and support this meaningful cause!
We are proud of our 100% rating with Charity Navigator and our Platinum rating with Guidestar, and we work hard to be your charity of choice. As always, we are grateful for your support and hope you will consider registering today, or making a tax-deductible contribution to the Celiac Disease Foundation.
To Our Health,
Marilyn G. Geller
Chief Executive