<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Dear fellow list members,

I was perusing the Archive page for this LISTSERV, and noticed that
this list has an incredibly large number of subscribers:  3,595  to
be exact!

When I contact companies about their food products, I plan to tell
them now that the information they pass along to me will likely be
distributed to some 3600 people who are on this list and concerned
about Celiac Disease.  Unless anyone objects, I think we should all
do the same when we trying to find out information.  It will perhaps
make them begin to take this issue a bit more seriously than some of
them do now.

I know I've spoken to manufacturers and food service companies who DO
make special efforts to provide excellent information -- and perhaps
they should be told, as well, that their efforts will be noted to
this large group of people and greatly appreciated.  Or perhaps we
could put together a "hit list" of sorts -- of companies and
restaurants who are "celiac friendly" and those who are not.  To me,
"celiac friendly" is anyone who at least TRIES to help and provide
specific and helpful information about their foods, even if the list
of foods we can eat is narrow.  Not friendly are those who hide
behind the notion that "nothing can be guaranteed," and they do not
even try.

Forgive me if someone has already thought of this idea -- and, if so,
please let me know if it's published anywhere.  Because I, for one,
do not wish to support those companies and will express my feelings
to my family and friends as well, and hope that they will not support
them either.  Perhaps we could get some newspapers to publish a story
about this issue.  Or perhaps I am just dreaming.

If anyone is interested in putting together an effort such as this,
please write me.  I am not in a position to do it alone.  PLEASE, no
nasty mail over this idea -- which I seem to receive from some, at
even the least controversial post to this list.  If you have reason
to believe this is a bad idea, that's fine ... I'll listen -- just
don't crucify me, personally, for suggesting it.  :-)

-Suzanne
Indiana

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*