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     Since its formation, almost 10 years ago, the American Celiac Disease
Alliance (ACDA) has been our community's most effective advocate in the 
halls of government! From the Food Labeling law several years back to 
this latest FDA announcement the ACDA has worked hard to make our
lives easier. Here is an excerpt from an article on the FD website by the
title: "What is Gluten-Free? FDA Has an Answer" (read the entire article
on the FDA website: 
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm363069.htm


"This standard 'gluten-free' definition will eliminate uncertainty about how 
food producers label their products and will assure people with celiac disease 
that foods labeled 'gluten-free' meet a clear standard established and enforced 
by FDA," says Michael R. Taylor, J.D., deputy FDA commissioner for foods 
and veterinary medicine.
Andrea Levario, executive director of the American Celiac Disease Alliance, 
notes that there is no cure for celiac disease and the only way to manage the 
disease is dietary—not eating gluten. Without a legal definition of "gluten-free," 
these consumers could never really be sure if their body would tolerate a food 
with that label, she adds.
"This is a tool that has been desperately needed," Levario says. "It keeps food 
safe for this population, gives them the tools they need to manage their health, 
and obviously has long-term benefits for them."
"Without proper food labeling regulation, celiac patients cannot know what the 
words 'gluten free' mean when they see them on a food label," says Allessio 
Fasano, M.D., director of the Center for Celiac Research at MassGeneral Hospital 
for Children, visiting professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and 
member of the American Celiac Disease Alliance.

    For my son and I, both celiacs, I want to express my appreciation
for all the work the ACDA has done for the celiac community. 

Dimitrios

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