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The question has been raised again about the usefulness of labeling
legislation that does not require specifically calling out GLUTEN.
The question has been put this way:
" ... does this legislation cover "gluten" or just "wheat"? If it
just covers wheat, then what does the Celiac community benefit? We
still have to know if foods contain other gluten sources. I guess
it will help clarify the "modified food starch" issue, but it seems
that the bill would be a lot better for us celiacs if gluten were
identified; not just wheat."
This is an extremely important issue since, as we speak, a Food
Labeling Bill has already made it through the Senate and a similar one
is steadily working its way through the House.
So here it is in a nutshell:
7) As celiacs we have a problem with wheat, rye, barley and - guilt
through association - oats.
6) With the exception of beer and some hard liquor ( mostly scotch )
it is extremely rare to find rye or barley in a food by
themselves; they are always accompanied by wheat!
5) Therefore, Food Labeling Legislation that requires listing wheat
on the label, will serve 90% of every celiac's needs; more than
95% of the needs of celiacs that drink no alcoholic beverages.
4) If we were to demand GLUTEN on the label we would have to wait
for
a LONG, LONG, LOOOOONG time because:
a) first there would have to be a consensus definition of the
term GLUTEN ( not as easy as you think )
b) There would have to be negotiations - FROM SCRATCH - on a
new labeling bill
c) And since it's an election year, and this is not a barn-
burner issue, none of this would even be started before
2005! So, if we were lucky: NO LEGISLATION before, say 2009!
3) The current bills represent several years of work and the support
of an unprecedented, fragile coalition of medical experts,
patient support communities and food manufacturers you'd be
hard pressed to bring together again!
2) The events of the past year: new prevalence study, the work of
the American Celiac Task Force, raised awareness and publicity
for the celiac sufferer in print, radio and TV - including the
10 minute segment on NBC's TODAY Show. This is our 5 minutes
of fame and we need to capitalize on it!
1) And in Leterman fashion: THE NUMBER ONE REASON to fight for
passage of the current legislation:
It has an excellent chance of becoming law - THIS YEAR!
This would alleviate over 90% of the celiac's food labeling
issues, and would be the biggest, forward step EVER in making
the management of our disease significantly simpler.
So, my vote: SUPPORT THE CURRENT LEGISLATION AND TELL EVERYONE ELSE
YOU KNOW TO DO THE SAME.
Regards,
Dimitrios Douros
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