As you are probably aware, the introduction of a Membership fee has been part a long process and one that we have not taken lightly.  We have implemented plans to ensure that we can generate enough income through the introduction of the fee to continue with the vital work we do for those with coeliac disease. 

We are delighted that the response from Members has been tremendous and we have already exceeded our expectations for this point in the year with around 25,000 members signed up and the number is increasing day by day.

We are delighted with the response and we would like to thank all of our Members who have already responded to the new approach.  For those of you that still wish to pay your fee, you can do so by completing the form sent to you, clicking here or calling 01494 437278.  Thank you once again for your continued support; it goes a long way to secure the future of Coeliac UK.

The online Food and Drink Directory is now live. We're sorry some of you were having problems accessing it, but this was due to some technical difficulties. These have since been resolved and you can now access this through the Member log in area of the website.

You can search by products and brand names, and you can also save products to your favourites, allowing you to easily update your Food and Drink Directory. We would welcome any feedback as we develop this service.

Research funded by Coeliac UK and The Wellcome Trust has discovered an additional seven gene regions implicated in causing coeliac disease. The team, led by David Van Heel, Professor of Gastrointestinal Genetics at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, has further demonstrated that of the nine coeliac regions now known, four of these are also predisposing factors for type 1 diabetes. Their research sheds light on both the nature of coeliac disease and the common origins it shares with type 1 diabetes.

This exciting research was published online in Nature Genetics on Sunday 2 March and appeared in the Sunday Telegraph on 2 March. Please click here to read the Sunday Telegraph article.

The 40th Annual General Meeting of the Charity will be held at the Glamorgan Cricket Club, Wales on 5th July this year.

The Cricket Club is situated 5 minutes walk from Cardiff city centre and is in an idyllic setting for what we hope will be a great day out for all the family. Running along side the AGM will be a food fair with a host of gluten-free products available for sale and for sampling.

The AGM notice, containing more information on the items to be discussed at the meeting along with details of the day's agenda will be available in the summer edition of Crossed Grain.

Coeliac UK is developing a panel of food sector advisors to provide the Charity with expert insight into the food sector and advice on gaining maximum benefit from the Charity's activities in the sector. The Group will be made up of representatives with relevant experience in the food industry to help develop networks, inform policy and improve understanding of issues in specific areas including quality control, regulatory affairs and enforcement. We hope this new group will help us to be more effective in helping develop working relations with our partners in the food industry and also the food service sector.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) announced new guidelines regarding the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Many people with coeliac disease are diagnosed with IBS by mistake as the symptoms are very similar. These new guidelines introduce new diagnostic criteria that ensure coeliac disease is tested for before a diagnosis of IBS is given and will go a long way to reducing the average 13 years from onset of symptoms to final diagnosis of coeliac disease.

Coeliac UK is endorsing these new guidelines as they are incredibly important in improving the early diagnosis of coeliac disease.

Please click here to see the press release issued by the Charity.

Daily Telegraph

Following various articles in The Daily Telegraph on spelt flour, we were delighted to recently note a correct statement that spelt flour is not suitable for people with coeliac disease. Our campaign messages are getting out there and people are starting to listen. To read the article click here.

BBC Radio Berkshire

In response to the interview on BBC Radio Berkshire on Thursday 7th February with chef Chris Prow, we were delighted to hear that a chef was discussing gluten-free recipes on the programme with Henry Kelly. However, we wanted to point out that Mr Prow mentioned a couple of things which were inaccurate. Gluten is not found in maize as he stated a number of times. He also mentioned that people who have to eat a gluten-free diet should not eat chicken which has been corn fed or free range. This is inaccurate as chicken does not contain gluten whatever it has been fed on.

Your gluten-free Easter list is now available so you can make sure you enjoy those Easter eggs without worrying about your diet!

Click here to download a PDF.

The plans for Awareness Week are well underway and already it's looking like we're going to have a fantastic week. Thank you to those who have ordered your Campaign Toolkits. If you have not yet had one then you can order yours by emailing volunteer@coeliac.org.uk

Policy makers are getting involved
Gordon Banks MP, Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Coeliac Disease and Dermatitis Herpetiformis has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) on the Food Without Fear campaign. So far we have 69 signatures supporting our campaign. To see the EDM and the signatories so far, please click here.

Jim Tolson MSP, Convener of the Cross Party Group on Coeliac Disease and DH has tabled a Motion on the Food Without Fear campaign. So far we have 19 signatures. To see the Motion and the number of signatories, please click here.

We will keep you updated on the signature count on both the EDM and the Motion as the campaign progresses.

We have sent letters to MPs urging them to sign the EDM, and Jim Tolson MSP has emailed MSPs urging them to sign the Motion. You can help by writing to your MP or MSP and urging them to sign the EDM and Motion respectively. To see a template letter and more information, please click here.

Awareness Week activity update
Campaign Toolkits have now been sent out to all Voluntary Groups so we're looking forward to hearing about all of your activities for Awareness Week.

We're currently mailing out Campaign Information packs to celebrity chefs to encourage them to endorse or campaign, and also to press and media to maximise our media coverage of the week.

Eat Out Gluten-free challenge
On Thursday 15th May Coeliac UK will be eating out with parliamentarians and key stakeholders in both Westminster and Holyrood.

We are currently planning a luncheon to take place simultaneously in the Houses of Parliament and Scottish Parliament. We will be talking about the challenges you face when eating out, and Coeliac UK's key aims to improve this problem.

We hope you will be eating out during Awareness Week between 12th - 18th May in support of our campaign. For some ideas of events you can host and more information on the Food Without Fear campaign, please click here.

We look forward to hearing of your events. Make sure you let us know what you're doing by completing the event registration form.

Food Without Fear recipe competition
We have issued a press release on the recipe competition and initial interest from the media has been good. Currently we have already received or are expecting coverage in, to name a few; Cumbria News, Country Times, Restaurant Magazine, EatOut, Cost Sector, Out of Homer, Fry Monthly and Masala Times.

We have had some entries for the gluten-free recipe competition but we are really looking forward to receiving more.

You could give a recipe competition flyer to a chef in your local restaurant or pub, or even to your local school. We would like chefs from all areas of catering to get involved. For some more ideas of how to get people involved or to download a copy of the recipe competition flyer, then click here. Alternatively, contact us for more information.

Many of you have let us know about the poor provision, and often no provision, of gluten-free food in hospitals and we wanted to try and tackle this problem on your behalf. We have created a toolkit for Members and also dietitians and ward staff which can be requested by calling our customer services number. If you are going into hospital, this pack contains advice about what to do, how to manage your diet with a gluten-free food checklist, and also gives you some Crossed Grain symbol stickers and a get well soon card to put on your bedside table to alert ward staff to your gluten-free status.

If you are going into hospital and you would like a pack to take with you, please call 0870 444 8804.

After our last request in eXG we are doing well with increasing our numbers of case studies.

We still need more, particularly in the run up to Awareness Week, as we are doing all we can to ensure the media know all about our Food Without Fear campaign. The human angle of coeliac disease is always a very popular tool to encourage the media to write about coeliac disease and help us raise awareness, but we can't do this without your help.

If you have an interesting story about living with coeliac disease, or If you have a story about struggling to maintain your lifestyle while you manage a gluten-free diet or you have ever become ill after being assured that the meal you ordered at a restaurant was gluten-free, than we want to hear from you.

Help others by telling your story by downloading the case study form, filling in as much detail as you can and return to case.studies@coeliac.org.uk

Please note there are no guarantees your story will be used by the media

Following the publication of a paper by the British Society of Gastroenterology, we have revised our recommendations for daily calcium requirements for adults with coeliac disease.

Osteoporosis is a condition where the body's bones become brittle and more likely to break.  It is diagnosed by measuring Bone Mineral Density (BMD) which assesses the strength of bones.  People with osteoporosis have a low BMD. 

Research suggests that around half of adults with coeliac disease are likely to have low BMD at diagnosis.  This is largely thought to be related to long-term malabsorption of calcium as a consequence of delayed diagnosis of coeliac disease. 

Ensuring a healthy balanced gluten-free diet, rich in calcium, is important to help maintain bone health.

The recommended daily intake of calcium for the general adult population (without coeliac disease) is 700mg. 

However, for adults with coeliac disease, the advised target intake is 1000mg per day.  For post-menopausal women and men over 55 years with coeliac disease the recommended amount is 1200mg per day.  If you feel you may need supplements it is sensible to discuss this with your dietitian or doctor, who will be able advise you.

For further information about how you can eat enough calcium, please click here.

Please contact us to request a current copy of our 'Osteoporosis' leaflet for more information about the condition. Please note we are currently changing the content of this leaflet to reflect this change in calcium requirements. The revised leaflet is in production and should be ready by the beginning of May.

Coeliac UK is delighted to announce that we have secured places in the following events in the Great Run Series:

Great Manchester Run 10 km (18th May 2008)
Great Edinburgh Run 10 km (4th May 2008)
Great South Run - 10 miles (28th October 2008)

We would like to invite you to represent us at these events. In return for a guaranteed place, we ask you to raise a minimum sponsorship. For more details or to register for a place, please email our Fundraising Team or call 01494 796132.

Coeliac UK will help you with your fundraising so join our team and receive a full sponsorship pack including sponsorship forms, a fundraising pack full of training tips and your very own Coeliac UK running vest to wear on the day. 

We still have limited places available in the London 10K on 6th July so contact our Fundraising Team on the details above to register your interest.

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.

08 March 2008 Wirrall Group
Gluten-free food and accommodation fair. Ellesmere Port Civic Hall, Ellesemere Port, CH65 0AZ. 10am - 3pm.

8 March 2008 Aberdeen Group
AGM. Beacon Centre, Bucksburn. 11am - 1pm.

8 March 2008 Glasgow and Clyde Valley Group
Teenagers 10 pin bowling for 13 - 17 year olds. Ten pin bowling and hot meal. Adult must be present with each child. Contact Group Organiser to book. M&D's Cosmic Bowling Strathclyde Park. 12 - 2pm.

8 March 2008 Sevenoaks Group
AGM. Christ Church (URC), Littlecourt Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 2JG. 10.30am - 12.30pm.  

8 March 2008 Wolverhampton Group
The Young Coeliac's Group. Fish and chip supper and talk from Dr Kamran Rostami. Book your place through Young Coeliac's Organiser, Sue Mills, or email the Wolverhampton Group.

13 March 2008 Jersey Group 
Juvela cookery demonstration. White Hall Suite, L'Horizon Hotel & Spa, La Route de la Baie, St Brelade, Jersey. 6pm.

15 March 2008 Dorchester Group
AGM and cookery demonstration from GF Foods. Adults £1, children free. Southill Community Hall, Radipole Lane, Weymouth, Dorset. 10am.

15 March 2008 Sussex Group
AGM and Spring Meeting with guest speaker, Emma Merriken Dietitian from Coeliac UK. Claire Hall, opposite Haywards Heath Rail Station. 2.15pm.

16 March 2008 Nottinghamshire Group
Children and Families Network. Easter Egg trail at Sherwood Forest. Meet at the Visitor Centre. Sherwood Forest Country Park, Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, NG12 9HN. 2pm.

02 April 2008 North Surrey Group
AGM followed by a talk from David Van Heel, Professor of Gastrointestinal Genetics, Honorary Consultant Gastroenterologist.

Juvela are delighted to be sponsoring Coeliac UK's 'What's on' section on eXG for 2008. 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.

Minted Feta & Rocket Pasta Salad

Using Juvela's delicious new gluten-free Fibre Penne, this fresh and healthy pasta salad combines creamy feta cheese and peppery rocket leaves, with a hint of mint and a citrus tang!

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 100-150g (4-6oz) JUVELA Gluten-Free Fibre Penne (dry weight)
• 1 tbsp fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
• 50g (2oz) frozen peas
• 50g (2oz) feta cheese, crumbled
• 50g (2oz) rocket leaves
• zest & juice of ½ lemon
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil (optional)

Method:

1. Cook the Penne as per instructions on pack
2. Add the peas 2 minutes before the end of the cooking time. Drain and rinse thoroughly with cold water
3. Transfer to a large bowl and add the crumbled feta, rocket, mint leaves, lemon juice and zest
4. Drizzle with a little olive oil (optional) and toss all ingredients together to combine

Nutrition Information 

Per serving (160g): Calories 348, Fat 8.2g (of which saturates 3.9g), Carbohydrate 61.9g (of which sugars 2.6g), Fibre 6.8g, Calcium 114mg

For further information on our Fibre Pastas (available as Penne & Linguine) and for more delicious recipe ideas, simply: call our free advice line 0800 783 1992, email us at info@juvela.co.uk or visit our website: www.juvela.co.uk

At Sainsbury’s we understand that it can be difficult for people with Coeliac disease to find foods that are safe to eat and that don’t compromise on taste during Easter. That's why we've worked hard to provide you with lots of choice this Easter. A delicious chocolate egg, hot cross buns and a whole range of luxurious chocolates to name just a just few are now instore. You can be assured that all foods in Sainsbury's freefrom range meet our strict quality and safety standards, so not only are they safe to eat but they also taste fantastic too.

Please visit our website where you'll learn about the story behind our freefrom Easter egg, sign up to our brand new freefrom email and hopefully you'll find a little tasty inspiration to enjoy a freefrom Easter.

Decisions, decisions, decisions!

Brown or White? Which FREE loaf will you choose?  Sign up now!

We've improved not one, but two of our already popular Glutafin Select breads - so naturally we want everybody to know!  Just try our Glutafin Select White Loaf or our Glutafin Select Fibre Loaf and we're sure you'll notice their new and improved taste, texture and tantalising aroma, not to mention their larger slices.  That's why we're giving eXG readers the opportunity to have a free taster before updating their prescription.  But hurry! We're expecting a big response, so this offer is limited to 2,000 loaves. Ready to make the tricky choice between white or fibre?  Sign up now to order your free loaf.

One loaf per household.  Offer available while stocks last.

Take advantage of our Early Bird April specials!
Full board 'Gluten Free' holiday weeks at a Spring discount
with your seventh night free!
 
Our 2008 season is available on our website, and be sure to check out our family break in August. Sponsored by JUVELA - their  fine products, our gourmet French cuisine.
 +33 (0) 5 53 03 41 58

www.chateaudevillars.co.uk

What's in Your Gluten Free Pasta?

Rizopia Gluten Free Organic Brown Fusilli Pasta is full of all the goodness of whole grain organic brown rice. Compare it to other gluten free pasta manufactured from processed bleached flours, starches and e numbers.

Which do you think is best for you?

It is now available from selected Waitrose stores see our website for a 50p off coupon www.pgrhealthfoods.co.uk

A TASTE OF FRANCE - GLUTEN FREE

Enjoy a gluten free holiday at LA BELLE DEMEURE

Located in Jarnac, a charming riverside town in SW France

Delicious gluten free, wheat free food and excellent service

Free airport collections

www.glutenfreeinfrance.com

Tel 0870 760 5042 or 00 33 545 32 68 49

Exquisite 'Maison Charentaise' near the picturesque town of Cognac, South West France

B&B for 6 adults and 5 children, evening meals available upon request

Gluten free cooking a speciality

Heated 10m x 6m swimming pool

45 mins from beaches, 1hr 30 mins from Bordeaux, La Rochelle and Poitiers

www.glutenfreefrance.com

With over 700 products in our range including the brands Brookfarm, Innofoods, Il Pane di Anna (Available on prescription) and Novaldo, GFF Direct is a supermarket for Coeliacs! Our full range can be viewed at www.gffdirect.co.uk or at our very own shop in North Yorkshire.

Please call 01757 289200 for further details or a mail order catalogue.

Johnson's is run by coeliacs who have brought you the largest range of the finest gluten-free foods available under one roof!

Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive details of all our new products.

Web: www.johnsonsprovisions.co.uk  Tel: 0800 688 8969