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For Release on March 22, 2006

For Further Information Contact: Andrea Levario, Exec. Director
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www.americanceliac.org


Task Force Becomes AMERICAN CELIAC DISEASE ALLIANCE:
UNIFIED VOICE FOR CELIAC DISEASE

What started as a grassroots campaign urging Congress to require labeling of
food allergens has become a broad based advocacy organization, American
Celiac Disease Alliance, aimed at providing a uniform voice on behalf of
persons with Celiac Disease.
More than two years ago, an ad hoc group of 15 leaders in the celiac
community, came together to help pass the Food Allergen Labeling and
Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) in Congress.  The bill became law on August
3, 2004, easing much of the guesswork in food shopping for some 11 million
consumers with food allergies.

With this achievement, the Task Force realized the need for a permanent,
advocacy organization, and elected to become the American Celiac Disease
Alliance,Inc. (ACDA).  This step formalizes the role of the Alliance as the
umbrella organization representing the needs of the celiac community for the
advancement of education, research, and advocacy as recommended by the NIH
consensus panel on celiac disease in June 2004.

A not-for-profit organization, the mission of the ACDA is to provide a
uniform voice on behalf of persons with Celiac Disease through education and
advocacy initiatives.

Some of the early goals of the organization that are being considered
include assisting the FDA in determining a gluten-free standard for foods
manufactured or imported into in the United States.  The FDA is required to
create such a standard by August 2008.

Disaster preparedness and improving insurance reimbursement for dietitians
who provide nutritional counseling to persons diagnosed with Celiac Disease
are also on the top of the Alliance’s project list.

Dietitians are a critical resource for newly diagnosed celiac patients and
consultations with them are currently not reimbursed under many insurance
plans.  The group will be working with major health insurance providers to
have dieticians paid for the services they provide to celiac patients.

ACDA is contacting key disaster preparedness groups such as the Red Cross
and FEMA to help them develop protocol for meeting gluten-free diet needs
during natural disasters.  The group is also preparing a checklist of items
that individuals should stock in case of emergency.

The ACDA is a volunteer organization headed by Executive Director, Andrea
Levario, JD.  The founding members of the organization are listed below.

Institutional:
Celiac Disease Center at Columbia UniversityNew York,  NY
www.celiacdiseasecenter.columbia.edu
University of Chicago Celiac Disease Program Chicago,  IL
www.celiacdisease.net
University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research Baltimore, MD
www.celiaccenter.org

Associate Members:
American Celiac Society  www.americanceliacsociety.org
Celiac Disease Foundation www.celiac.org
Gluten Intolerance Group www.gluten.net

Industry Members:
Bob & Ruth’s Gluten-free Dining & Travel www.bobandruths.com
Ener-G Foods, Inc. www.energ.com
Gluten-Free Living Magazine www.glutenfreeliving.com
Glutino-USA www.glutenfree.com
Living Without www.livingwithout.com
Prometheus Laboratories Inc. www.prometheuslabs.com

Affiliate Members:
Allison Herwitt
Andrea Levario, J.D.
Joseph Murray, M.D.
Michelle Pietzak, M.D.


Beth Hillson
Founder, Gluten-Free Pantry
Vice President, Product Development/Consumer Education
Glutino USA/Gluten-Free Pantry
860-633-3826 ext. 101
www.glutenfree.com

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