Well, I sat down and just DID it tonight.   And now it’s up for the world to see and use.  Our first Printable is posted on… yessss.. The PRINTABLES page.  Our Grocery List is available in PDF for you to print and use.  I look forward to receiving feedback!

The June updates, as mentioned last week,  are posted on the Health Canada website regarding the proposed updates to the Food and Drug Act on labeling of allergen ingredients.  Sadly, we didn’t gain as much ground as we had hoped on one issue.   Oats.

It was asked that HC review, clarify and take into consideration the difference between common oats and oats from a dedicated source.  We have discussed that issue for our own purposes here at WF Family and have mixed opinions and health needs.  I can only imagine trying to make these decisions for a whole country!  Their decision ” for now”?

Health Canada will maintain the list of cereal grains identified in the definition of gluten as proposed in the CG Part I. Thus, “oats” will be required to be shown, in accordance with the new amendments when oat gluten is present in the product. This will alert all individuals with celiac disease, of the presence of oat gluten. This will assist those individuals with celiac disease who cannot tolerate oats to avoid those products that may cause an adverse reaction.

Health Canada will consider potential options to update the gluten-free definition prescribed in B.24.018 of the Food and Drug Regulations to better reflect the current scientific knowledge related to the safety of pure and uncontaminated oats for the majority of celiac individuals.

Sad but not hopeless.  Let’s hope we win on some of the other areas.

This issue has been ongoing and hard fought for years. The battle is not finished yet but there is ground being gained!

On  July 26, 2008 Health Canada released for public comment it’s  proposed amendments to the Food And Drug requirements for public comment.   June 2010 has brought some new postings on the topic that are of interest to the Gluten side of the concern.

June 2010

• Health Canada Reviews and Answers Comments Received on Regulatory Project 1220 – Enhanced Labelling for Food Allergens, Gluten Sources and Added Sulphites
• Health Canada’s Modifications to Regulatory Project 1220 – Enhanced Labelling for Food Allergens, Gluten Sources and Added Sulphites
• Health Canada Considers Comments for Possible Exemptions from the Enhanced Labelling Requirements for Foods or Ingredients Derived from Food Allergen or Gluten Sources

1) Definition of “food allergen” and “gluten”

In the proposed amendments, food allergen and gluten are defined as:

• Food allergen: any protein or modified protein, including any protein fraction, derived from any of the following foods: almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, wheat, kamut, spelt, triticale, eggs, milk, soybeans, crustaceans, shellfish or fish.

Gluten: any gluten protein or modified protein, including any protein fraction derived from the grains of the following cereals: barley, oats, rye, triticale, wheat, kamut or spelt. The definition would also apply to the grains of hybridized strains of the cereals listed above

2) Declaration of the food allergen or gluten source

The proposed amendments would require the declaration of food allergens or gluten sources on the label of a prepackaged product, either in the list of ingredients or in a statement beginning with the words “Allergy and Intolerance Information – Contains:”. In the case of gluten sources, it would be required that the name of the cereal grain (e.g. wheat, rye, barley, oats, triticale) be declared.

Change – HC will be removing kamut and spelt as distinct terms in the definition of “food allergen” and “gluten” and as the prescribed name of the food allergen source and gluten source. HC will be interpreting the term “wheat” to include all cereal grains from the species Triticum. This interpretation will include kamut and spelt.

Change – Health Canada will shorten the wording of the prescribed prefix to: “Contains:”.

Health Canada recognizes that wording “Contains:” statement would be more practical for industry and consumers and would harmonize with international trade practice.

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I do encourage you to read all three articles and keep up on these proposals.  It is a far cry from the original media influx that made it sound as if these were PASSED amendments in September of 2009.  Other issues have moved in our favor including the removal of exceptions to capsule casings and other items as well as, the reduction of the Grace Period for Transition/Implementation from the requested 2 years to 18 months.  Downside?  That period would START when these proposed amendments are passed.  As yet?  not a done deal.

Until then?  Keep reading your labels and using your Gut Feeling!

This past weekend was the Celiac Trade show in Calgary, AB.   Sadly….  it was 10 hours away from me so I could not go.  Joyously…  I am blessed to have a kid sister still in Calgary who was THRILLED for an excuse to take her daughter and go check it out.  Neither of them are Celiac but both understand the struggles and support us in such a huge way.

The girl has horseshoes shoved vertically up a certain spot of her body because she won a door prize!  ( you have to understand… this girl wins A LOT!  Including a trip to Mazatlan last year!)  I Scored because she sent the winnings plus some finds of her own out to us here!  The Duct-Taped parcel arrived today!

Red Mill’s Flours, Brownie Mix and Pizza Crust.  The Pizza Crust mix I was thrilled to get as I LOVE that one!  Not only does it make great pizza shells but also doubles as a flat bread in it’s Nan Bread like style.

Quince Jelly – O_O  not sure what to do with that one.  Will have to try some home made bread with some of that on it.

Sugar and Spice Chocolate cookies,  Larabar fruit bars, Corn pasta, and more!   She also sent out an early release copy of Wendy Turnbull’s “Gems of Gluten-Free Baking” recipe book.

Keep your eyes open for links, reviews and sources for each of these and more!