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Summary #6:United Airlines,

United Airlines, food labeling, it all sums up to the same thing. We are a
minority, we need recognition and that our disease is taken seriously.  We
want the same rights as everybody else with a serious health problem.
I called United Airlines today and asked if they were considering serving
gluten free meals. The person on the phone gave me a long list of diet
choices and none was gf. Cost cutting measures because of what happened
last September made them cancel gf meals. My tax money bailed them out. Are
the passengers with diabetes, low fat, vegetarian or religious needs more
important? They must be, because they get the meals they need to endure
long flights. My flight is 12 hours long not including time between flights.
Toll free phone and fax numbers can be found in earlier summaries of United
Airlines postings.

Margareta Morrison

Below is a summary by Margareta Morrison of the latest postings

You know, they would just simplify matters if they offered a fruit plate,
like USAir does. USAir gave me a gluten-free dinner that I refused to eat,
because the aluminum cover was not attached and the meal was heated and
stacked with all of the others....and came with the ubiquitous cellophane
wrapped cracker, wheat of course, and a sauce of undetermined origin. Even
the gluten-free sticker on the cover didn't look official enough. The
flight attendant suggested that I'd be safer ordering fruit next time. I
still request gf....to keep the airline aware of the need, but I bring my
own food for the flight and try to eat before boarding.Our biggest problem
is if the plane gets delayed or detoured. We can carry just so much food
with us.

Thanks for championing the cause.

Lin
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A reply to Susan from Lin:

You present an excellent point.  I was just thinking about the gluten free
meal and saying well, that will not help me because I am also intolerant of
soy, corn, and dairy.  Clear labeling is the only answer not only for
people with CD, but also people who have the additional intolerance/allergy
to other foods.  The more I hear from others, the more I realize that
celiacs seem to have more intolerances in addition to gluten.  I have
several grandchildren who are not celiacs that have such a diverse set of
intolerances/allergies that it is a real problem to entertain.  They have
orange, banana, strawberry, milk, watermelon, chocolate, carrots, spinach,
nuts, peanuts and the list goes on.  Clear labeling is the only answer to
all these problems. If we could only get all these groups together to
petition the FDA, perhaps we would get somewhere.  Thanks for your addition
to this idea.

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I agree with the poster who asked why we are botherinig with this.  We have
found that even the supposedly GF meals are suspect so we bring our own.
Lets work on the FDA.

Jo
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