After several months campaigning both locally and nationally we have received a positive response from Northamptonshire PCT that it is to reconsider its policy of restricting prescriptions for gluten-free foods for coeliac patients.  The PCT dietitians and prescribing advisors are reviewing the PCT guidance on gluten-free food prescribing and are likely to make a recommendation to the PCT Board to suspend the restrictions introduced last autumn.

The advisors will recommend a new initiative of supplying gluten-free foods via community pharmacies and thereby removing the need for a prescription by providing patients with a points system that they can use to choose the gluten-free products they desire.

The research project which we co-sponsored into the genetic causes of coeliac disease has been reported in the press. Working with the Wellcome Trust and Queen Mary College, London University we issued a press release which was reported in The Guardian on 11 June and on several science and medical websites - including CBS News online in America!

Led by former Olympic runner Yvonne Murray, a team of 12 athletes took part in the Women's only 10k in Glasgow on Sunday 13 May raising over £2000 for Coeliac UK.  The Team was made up of members of the Clyde Valley and the Glasgow Support Groups, as well as family and friends.   .

On Sunday 1 July, four members of the Diet and Health team and one very supportive husband took part in and successfully completed the British 10K London Run. Nicky Mendoza, Kathryn Miller, Emily Kirk, Emma Merrikin and Phil Merrikin ran to raise money for Coeliac UK!
 
You can still reward their efforts by making a sponsorship donation, to do so - please click here! 

All Coeliac UK 2007 events will be kindly sponsored by Glutafin.

Coeliac UK will be holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the University of Sheffield on Saturday 7 July. The day will start with an open forum for members diagnosed in the last 12 months, followed by a discussion session with health & diet advisers and a Governors' clinic. We will have a small number of gluten-free manufacturers exhibiting which will give members and their guests the opportunity to browse and discuss foods with the people behind the products.   A selection of hot gluten-free food will be available to buy throughout the day and gluten-free goody bags will be given to everyone who attends the AGM.
 
Our keynote speaker this year will be Gordon Banks MP, who is the Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group on coeliac disease and DH.  He will also give the Elizabeth Segall lecture and Professor Peter Howdle will be signing copies of his newly published book ' your guide to coeliac disease' - where for every copy sold, 50p will be donated to Coeliac UK.
 
For further information, please refer to your invitation - sent out to all members with the last issue of Crossed Grain magazine, issue no 68.

We achieved some good coverage during Awareness Week thanks to the willingness of members to be case studies. But we are always in need of new people to be case studies. So if you are willing to speak to the press about your experience of living with coeliac disease we would like to hear from you. It usually involves talking to a journalist for 20 minutes or so (usually by phone) and they normally require a recent photo. If you think you would be happy to do this please contact Kevin Monks at kevin.monks@coeliac.org.uk. 

Following on from our early diagnosis campaign during Awareness Week, we are now planning to launch a campaign to improve knowledge of coeliac disease among hospital staff and caterers.

We are still looking for case studies so if you have experienced a recent stay in hospital or know someone who has please do let us know your story. 

During Awareness Week we had a hugely successful reception in the House of Commons which was attended by nearly 50 Parliamentarians or their researchers; and on the following day an exhibition in the building that houses most of the MPs offices that was widely visited.

Our Early Day Motion (No. 1449) which was tabled on 10 May calling on the Government to help raise awareness of coeliac disease has now been signed by 112 MPs, many of whom had not signed our earlier EDMs which indicates that awareness is continuing to grow among MPs.  

Following a Coeliac UK exhibition held at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 30 May, we now have enough support among MSPs to set up a proposed Cross-Party Group on Coeliac Disease and Dermatitis Herpetiformis. Jim Tolson MSP and Margo MacDonald MSP have agreed to play an active role adn several other MSPs have pledged their support. Further information will be available later.

The Coeliac UK Exhibition at the Parliament was visited by Nicola Sturgeon MSP, the new Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, as well as the new Presiding Officer, Alex Fergusson MSP. Health Minister Shona Robison MSP, former Health Minister Andy Kerr MSP and former First Minster Jack McConnell MSP also visited the stand.

Our 2007 Awareness Week Campaign has proven to be our most successful one to date. We are still analysing the results but achieved around 140 items of coverage - from national newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail to a wide range of regional newspapers as well as trade, consumer and health publications. We also got airtime on national TV on ITV's GMTV and This Morning shows reaching an audience of over 6 million viewers as well as on ITV Central News and the BBC1 soap Doctors which has 1.8 million viewers. We also featured on a wide range of radio stations reaching an audience of over 10 million listeners. Overall, in terms of radio and TV coverage, we estimate to have reached at least 17 million potential viewers or listeners.  

Imagine the adrenaline rush as you jump from a plane at 10,000ft, heading towards the earth at 120mph for 5,000ft of free fall, then the tranquility as the parachute deploys. Or be strapped to a professional parachuting instructor for the tandem skydiving where we'll give you the chance to freefall at up to 120mph!

This could be you! Coeliac UK has teamed up with Skyline to offer you this exciting challenge. For more information on how to get involved click here.

All Coeliac UK events will be kindly sponsored by Glutafin.  

A recent study has identified a new genetic risk factor for coeliac disease. The study was funded by Coeliac UK and the Wellcome Trust and led by Professor David van Heel, Professor of Gastrointestinal Genetics at Queen Mary, University of London.

Exploiting technological advances that have enabled scientists to compare differences in the genes of large numbers of people, genetic data on 778 people with coeliac disease was compared to a control group of 1422 people without the condition.  Researchers found that those people without coeliac disease more often had a protective genetic (DNA) sequence thought to provide defence against gut inflammation compared to individuals with coeliac disease.

Professor David van Heel, chief investigator in the study, said; 'The first findings from our study suggest that genes that control inflammation are critical. We expect to find more disease risk factors from further in-depth analysis of the gene data.'

Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive of Coeliac UK said: 'This research heralds an important breakthrough in understanding better who is likely to develop coeliac disease. Around 1 in 100 people develop the disease but predicting who is susceptible is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Currently genetic testing is a blunt instrument which can only narrow down the search to around one third of the general population'.

'A genome-wide association study for celiac disease identifies risk variants in the region harboring IL2 and IL21' Van Heel D et al; Nature Genetics (2007)

Slovene Celiac Disease Society together with Department of Paediatrics at Maribor Teaching Hospital are organising a simultaneous meeting of AOECS (Association of European Celiac Societies) and medical professionals in September 2007. This is a meeting where experts with special interest in coeliac disease and scientists who conduct intensive research in all aspects of the disease can discuss important issues, with the leaders of all the European patient organisations, such as better quality of life for patients with coeliac disease. Click here to read what will be discussed at the meeting.

Here is just a sample of what is going on over the next month - However, there is so much more happening in and around your area. To find out dates, times, details and other events please click here.

07 July 2007 Newmarket Food Fair
Anglia gluten-free food fair at Rowley Mile racecourse, Newmarket. Anglia's largest gluten-free food fair in 2007! Come along between 10am - 3pm and taste lots of coeliac-friendly food. Take away lots of free goodies and buy your favourites - breads, pastries, sausages, pizzas, cakes, whatever you like! Come early as the food does go quickly.

07 July 2007 West Cumbria Group
Annual Fish 'n' Chip Trip. This popular annual trip includes visits to The Coppice Coffee Shop at Aysgarth falls, a visit to the Gluten-free kitchen at Leyburn and then "The Chippie" in Hawes.

07 July 2007 Coeliac UK AGM
Coeliac UK will be holding its Annual General Meeting at (AGM) at the University of Sheffield on Saturday 7 July. See above article for full details.

14 July 2007 Norfolk and Norwich
Health farm shop are going to hold a gluten-free open day. Please come along to try a number of gluten-free goodies!

15 July 2007 Bournemouth & Poole Group
For only £3 you can come along and enjoy a gluten-free Cream Tea with scones, home-made jam, cake and a cup of tea or coffee in a wonderful setting overlooking the River Stour.

28 July 2007 South Surrey Group
Annual BBQ in South Godstone from 4pm. A fun filled afternoon with games for all the family and a tasty BBQ. Cost is £6 per adult and £3 per child.

29 July 2007 Lincolnshire Group
Veronica Cullum, one of the group Committee Members has kindly offered to host an 'OPEN AFTERNOON' in her garden in Boston. There will be teas, coffees, ice creams, tombola, garden games, cakes and lots of fun!

Juvela are delighted to be sponsoring Coeliac UK's 'What's on' section on eXG for 2007. To find out more information on what's on in your area click here! 

To keep up to date with Juvela's whereabouts click here.

Cheese and Tomato Platter

Glutafin Bread Mixes make great bread. No bread machines required…all you need is a mixing bowl and a fork.
This flatbread recipe uses Glutafin Select Bread Mix combined with fresh baby plum tomatoes, fresh chopped herbs and grated cheddar cheese. Ideal served in pizza style wedges with a salad.

In brief...

Makes 1 x 25cm / 10" flatbread
Preparation time 15 mins
Proving time 45 mins
Cooking time 15-20 mins
Oven temperature - Preheated
200ºC / 180ºC Fan / 400ºF / Gas Mark 6

Ingredients...

• 350g/ 12oz Glutafin Select Bread Mix
• 1 ½ x 5ml tsp yeast enclosed with Mix
• 50g/ 2oz Mature Cheddar, grated
• 300ml/ 11 fl oz Hand hot water

Topping

• 75g/3oz Baby plum tomatoes, halved
• 1 Clove garlic, crushed
• 2 x 15ml Fresh chopped mixed herbs, parsley, oregano, basil and thyme are all perfect
• 1 x 15ml tbsp Olive oil
  

Method:

1. Combine the halved tomatoes with the oil, garlic and herbs.
2. Mix the Bread Mix and yeast together in a medium size bowl. Stir in half the cheese and all the water. Combine using a fork to make a smooth runny batter
3. Spoon the batter onto a large baking sheet with a lip to it and lined with greaseproof paper. Alternatively use a pizza tray lined with greaseproof. Spread the batter out using a tablespoon dipped in water to a 25cm / 10" round.
4. Spoon on the tomato mixture and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Cover with oiled cling film and leave to prove in a warm place for 45 minutes until the batter is almost frothing and full of air bubbles.
5. Bake until crisp and golden.

Serving suggestions

Serve in pizza style wedges or fingers.

Tip:

• What is "hand hot" water? Use 1/3 boiling water and top up with cold water to give correct temperature.
• Add 50g/2oz halved olives and replace Cheddar with grated Parmesan for a Tuscan style bread.

Thank you to Glutafin for sponsoring this recipe. You can go to their website and view more here.

Let us know what you think of the recipe by calling the Glutafin Careline on 0845 603 9895.

Enjoy a baking summer with Glutafin Mixes
To make the perfect gluten-free recipe, you need the right flour. And no-one has a better selection of flour mixes than Glutafin. Our range of gluten-free and gluten and wheat-free mixes means you can whisk up a lunch-time quiche, a tea-time scone or any-time pasties in a jiffy. So make sure you add a mix to your next prescription and start baking! For more details click here or call our Careline on 0845 603 9895

We are sorry to announce that we are closing our corn factory in Daventry. We made this difficult decision for commercial reasons following a review of our entire business operation.

Unfortunately this means that from July 07 onwards, Discovery Foods will no longer be producing Gluten ree Corn Tortillas and Gluten Free Mexican Recipe kits.

You can still find our range of sauces, spices and accompaniments on the Mexican shelf, all of which are gluten-free, so you can still enjoy popular Mexican dishes.
 
As corn plays such a major role in the Mexican diet, we will be actively looking at developing alternative corn based products in the near future.

To discover more, please visit www.discoveryfoods.co.uk

SWEETEN UP SNACK TIME WITH OK FOODS
Introducing NEW Mini-bites from Ok Foods! Available in Fruit, Nut & Chocolate and Flapjack style.
The delicious bites are the decadent choice for on-the-go snacking. The combination of the fruit, nut and rich dark chocolate will tantalise your taste buds and tackle your hunger and the delicious flavours of cornflakes and golden syrup combine to give you a filling snack at any time of day.
Like all Ok products, the bites are gluten, wheat and dairy-free so you can tuck in without worrying. These new Ok Foods treats are made alongside the rest of the range in a dedicated gluten, wheat and dairy free bakery to excellent standards and can be enjoyed as a treat by all the family, not just those following a specialist diet.
Now available from Morrisons and Waitrose and coming soon to Sainsbury's and Tesco.
Products can also be ordered online www.ok-foods.co.uk or via mail order on 01768 898437.

We are delighted to announce that a range of 18 Proceli Gluten & Wheat Free products are now available on prescription.
Pizza bases, pasta, and various rolls and different types of bread. For more information please log on to
www.proceli.co.uk

New from Brookfarm comes fantastic muesli that contains 17 gluten-free ingredients all blended with a dark rich unprocessed Australian bush honey and oven baked to perfection!
For more information contact GFF direct on 01757 289200 or visit our website www.gffdirect.co.uk

ENJOY A GLUTEN-FREE HOLIDAY at LA BELLE DEMEURE
Featured in Irish Coeliac News
Delicious food
Excellent service
Lovely location in SW France
www.glutenfreeinfrance.com Tel 0870 7605042 or 0033545326849.

Allergen free food - full of flavour!  Fed up with inferior supermarket 'free-from' products?  Come to Johnson's - run and staffed by coeliacs - understand your needs the best.

www.johnsonsprovisions.co.uk, visit our shop near Brighton or call 0800 688 8969

Rizopia Gluten Free Organic Brown Pasta is now available in Lasagne and Fantasia shapes (Children's Pasta)
It is full of all the goodness of whole grain organic brown rice; it is healthy, natural and easy to digest.
Available from Health Food Shops.
For more information please visit PGR Health Foods at www.pgrhealthfoods.co.uk

Gluten & Wheat-free Fish & Chips, Onion Rings, Chicken Goujons, Fritters and much more... Authentic, crispy, golden, delicious and easy to use batter mix. Enjoy all your favourites with Glu-2-Go.  Visit our website or contact us on 01324 717273. www.glu2go.co.uk

Summer's here and the time is right ... for getting in holiday gear.
 
DietaryCard offer widely recognised, wipe clean, highly durable translations of your dietary needs in credit-card format. We've been taking the ordeal out of ordering at home or abroad since 1999.

Put peace of mind in your pocket today at  www.dietarycard.co.uk  01506 635358