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There has in fact been research done on the long term effects of Codex Alimentarius wheat starch mainly in Finland by some of the most eminent gastroenterologists in the area of coeliac research(see below, all cited in www celiac.com). Professor Markus Maki of the University of Tampere leads this research and I understand he is respected even in North America.  You might care to look at his department's formidable publication list if you doubt this.

When Americans say no research has been done what they usually mean is no research has been done in the US, the reason being in this case is that there is no money to be made from it by the pharmaceutical industry.  Finland may be a small insignificant European country which many Americans would be hard pressed to even find on a map but it so happens that it leads the world in terms of diagnosis, treatment and public awareness of celiac disease (1 in 300 diagnosed) and celiacs there have a lifestyle American celiacs would drool over.  

Codex Wheat starch is prescribed by Consultants of Gastroenterology Depts and eaten by most celiacs in many European countries including the UK, Ireland, France, Netherlands and Germany. 

Here in the UK (another small European country) even our beleaguered National Health Service prescribes me and my son (at no small cost) with free bread, biscuits, pasta and flour, some of it made with wheat starch.  As a consequence I have the kind of fresh brown bread in my freezer, muffins and crispbreads in my cupboard that no one can tell are gluten-free.

OK some celiacs have an allergy to wheat, like some non-celiacs.  And some celiacs are super-sensitive or continue to have other food problems, mainly because they've waited years for a diagnosis because of ignorant doctors or allergy quacks and their immune systems are damaged.

Most GFcompliant celiacs can eat and enjoy designated wheat starch and believe me here in the UK and Ireland we do, which is why you never find us bothering to exchange tortuous cookie recipes involving xanthum gum and amaranth! 

Of course more research is needed and a more general agreement on the Codex Alimentarius should be implemented. Perhaps the American food industry should be encouraged here.

The US leads the field in many medical areas (and if I had an inoperable brain tumour and a £1million I would no doubt prefer to be treated there) but celiac disease is not one of them -  not by a long way, not yet.  

Charlotte Ward-Perkins, Oxford, UK



http://www.celiac.com/codex_wheat_starch.html#Codex_01

What is the Codex Alimentarius Commission - Is Codex Wheat Starch Safe for the Gluten-Free Diet/Celiac Disease?



Wheat Starch-containing Gluten-free Flour Products in the Treatment of Coeliac Disease and Dermatitis Herpetiformis. A Long-term Follow-up Study.  Scand J Gastroenterol 1999 Feb;34(2):163-9 PMID: 10192194, UI: 99206412 Authors: Kaukinen K, Collin P, Holm K, Rantala I, Vuolteenaho N, Reunala T, Maki M 

Dept. of Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Finland. 




Persistent Mucosal Abnormalities in Coeliac Disease are not Related to the Ingestion of Trace Amounts of Gluten

Scand J Gastroenterol 1999 Sep;34(9):909-14 AW Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Dept of Histopathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia




Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale in Coeliac Disease Patients on Wheat Starch-Based Gluten-Free Diets

Scand J Gastroenterol 2000 Sep;35(9):947-9 Lohiniemi S, Maki M, Kaukinen K, Laippala P, Collin P. Dept. of Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, University of Tampere, Finland.

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