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Hi All--Apologies for my very delayed summary of responses, and thanks to Ayn whose question prompted me to pose my own question, and to all who contributed their thoughts!

(The following is a modified version of my original query.) Since diagnosis, I have been very concerned about lack of fortified gf flours and food products made of same, but have had a hard time being taken seriously.  Many  people, with or without cd, dismiss this as trifling--(Be thankful there are gf products! One can eat other foods., Etc. ) Of course there are bean & other more nutritious whole grain flours available, but these products, are often combined with goodly proportions of un-enriched rice, cornstarch, tapioca, potato flour, etc.

The non-celiac public are afforded fortified, enriched flours, so that they can be well-nourished (or at least better nourished than they would be consuming unenriched refined wheat products). Should celiacs not be given the same option? It seems to me we have an even greater need for enriched flours than non-celiacs, with our impaired gi systems; instead we get less! Perhaps the reason we are consuming many products with empty grain calories, is the expense. But as with many things, if we as a group or as individuals, request/demand them, isn't it possible that a variety of enriched gf flours and products will become more available, and at reasonable cost?

TO DISTINGUISH THEM FROM RESPONSES, MY THOUGHTS FOLLOW IN CAPS. MOST RESPONDERS DECRIED THE LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF ENRICHED GF FOODS AND FLOURS.  I RECEIVED MANY "AGREE WITH YOU 100%' S. " SEVERAL HAD  DIFFERENT TAKES ON THE ISSUE. I QUOTE FROM SOME IN EACH CATEGORY, BELOW:

-I couldn't agree with you more. As a mother of a 10yo Celiac  
(diagnosed at 20 months), I am always concerned about my son's  
nutrition and the lack of nutrients in his food. It is one reason I  
buy him a couple of GF mainstream cereals and try not to worry about  
contamination just so he gets some fortified foods that all his peers  
eat. I wish just one producer would hear our cry and I bet others  
would follow.  

-I completely agree! My second child was just DX'd last week and I  
just told her to take B12 because of this very reason. I also got her on teen vitamins  
however, I DO feel thatwe are entitled to enriched products!

-Bravo! I've often wondered the same thing! I just don't know what we can do.

- ...the subject of enrichment is my pet peeve.  I decided to take the
gluten challenge and go back to consuming gluten so that after 1 yr. I can
be retested. ...Since I have been eating breads and cereals, I see how they
are fortified, and I am realizing how much nutrition I was not getting while
on a gluten free diet.  Gluten free cereals, breads and flours are very
costly, but have a minimum of benefit.  People don't realize what they are
missing for nutrients.  I have not felt well since going back to gluten, and
I will probably have to go back to the gluten free products but I don't look
forward to breakfast cereal with empty calories and no vitamins.  ....  I totally understand your position.

- Perhaps it is because there is not the demand for our flours that there is for wheat flour. No demand = no big profit.

- As a mother of 4 grown children, (3 are celiacs) I agree with you wholeheartedly and have been saying the same thing for years.  I grind enriched rice to make my flour but the tapioca and potato starch are devoid of any nutritional value.  Some companies are beginning to enrich cereals and corn meal is already enriched.  I would support efforts to push for enrichment.

- I agree with you 100% I have been asking for this for a long time and know one seems to be listening. 

- Fully agree and have wondered the same as to why no one seems concerned that 
our GF alternative products have no nutritional value to us. Most are just 
empty calories. I would think tha with the celiac disease causeing 
nutritional dificiencies, along with a restricted diet, our products would 
be super fortified. Instead we have to take exspensive supplaments with our 
meals to try tio get the nutrients we need along with paying way more for 
the food. Yes, this issue needs to be brought forward and addressed.

(CONTINUED ON PART II)


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