Following Coeliac UK's successful intervention to persuade North Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) to alter its policy of abandoning subscriptions for gluten-free foods, the Charity is now monitoring other PCTs, which may adopt similar policies. Click on this link to read Coeliac UK's statement.

Saturday 1st July is the deadline for this year's Volunteer Achievement Awards, sponsored by Juvela.  This is your opportunity to say thank you to a special person or people who might have gone that extra mile to help you when you were first diagnosed, or who has impressed you with their mission to improve life for other people with coeliac disease.
We are also looking for a young person with coeliac disease under the age of 16 who has lived life to the full, despite their condition.
If you know of anyone who fits the bill, please read more and download a sponsorship form here.

On the left is our 2005 winner Doug Young as he receives his award from Juvela's John Phillips for fundraising for Coeliac UK.  When discovering his baby daughter had coeliac disease, Doug fundraised for the Charity every year until his daughter was 18.

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is now only a month away! The AGM is being held at Reading University, Berkshire, on Saturday 15th July 2006.  If you want to attend please bring with you a completed admission ticket, which was sent out with the Summer 2006 Crossed Grain magazine issue No. 65.
Highlights include a consultant gastroenterologist in Derby who will speak on the 'Milestones in the history of coeliac disease' and a workshop for newly diagnosed members between 10:30am -11:30am.  Find out more about the AGM here.
The Berkshire Group will also be organising a gluten-free Food Fair from 12.00 noon and everyone is welcome!

Our special offers page brings you the latest deals we've negotiated for you with our friends at companies such as Warner Breaks. There are also partnerships with Amazon and eBay who donate a percentage back to Coeliac UK whenever you order. Click here to view our special offers page now.
You can also visit our shop, where we have a selection books, and, new to the page - aprons!
     

Coeliac UK's 2005 team in Birmingham.

On 3rd September the 'Hydro Active Women's 5k Challenge' is taking place simultaneously in London's Hyde Park, Birmingham and Liverpool and we are very grateful to Glutafin for sponsoring the Coeliac UK team.
It's a great opportunity to keep fit, raise funds for Coeliac UK and above all it's fun! - it's totally up to you whether you run or walk the 5k!
Our presence is valuable in order to raise the profile of coeliac disease; last year we were approached by other charity participants and spectators, who wanted to know more about the condition or had a friend or relative with the disease.  So please consider taking part. 
Just follow this link for more information.

Following our successful reception at the House of Commons during Awareness Week, the All-Party Parliamentary Group met on 21st June to plan future activities. Group Secretary Gordon Banks MP has entered a ballot to hold a debate in the House of Commons on coeliac disease. If successful we hope the debate will be on 18th July where questions can be asked to a Health Minister.  The debate should boost the number of signatures for the EDM (Early Day Motion), which has now been signed by 132 MPs.  The number of signatures is a measure of the strength of support within Westminster for our cause and will provide leverage in any future meetings with Ministers.  
You can do your bit too and sign our petition online and show your support!

Coeliac UK has been pushing for better diagnosis and management of coeliac disease for some time and have engaged in consultation with the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) - the body that advises the health service on drugs, guidelines for treatment and guidelines for the promotion of good health. NICE is considering introducing best practice guidelines on the diagnosis and management of coeliac disease.  A report will be presented to ministers in September and the All-Party Group has agreed to make representation to ministers beforehand to lobby for the cause.

In junction with CORE (the working name for the Digestive Disorders Foundation) we're pleased to invite you to 'An Evening with Alan Bennett', which will take place on Tuesday 19th September at The Royal College of Physicians in London. Yakult sponsors the event and all proceeds will go to Core's Research Fund and Coeliac UK. The evening will begin at 7pm and is followed by a wine and canapé reception. 
Princess Alexandra and Lord Carrington will be there.  Tickets cost £75 and you can contact CORE directly, quoting Coeliac UK, on telephone 020 7486 0341 or by email at info@corecharity.org.uk

Studies show that coeliac disease is much more common in Caucasian populations than previously thought. There is not much research available that examines the incidence of coeliac disease in ethnic minorities.
 
The aim of this American based study was to describe a case series of African-American patients with coeliac disease. Nine (1.3%) African-American patients with coeliac disease were chosen from a database of 700 patients with biopsy-proven coeliac disease and seen between 1981 and 2004. Females predominated, with seven, compared to two males.
 
Diarrhoea was the symptom in only two patients, while three had iron deficiency anemia. One third had at least one autoimmune disease. Only four patients adhered strictly to a gluten-free diet so compliance to the diet within the patients studied is described as poor.
The authors conclude that coeliac disease occurs in African-Americans and may well be under diagnosed. Special attention needs to be given to methods that encourage adherence to the diet in minority groups.

Pardeep Brar, Ann R. Lee, Suzanne K. Lewis, Govind Bhagat and Peter H. R. Green Digestive Diseases and Science; Published online 27 April 06.

Here is some of what is going on in and around your area!  There is so much more happening and to find out more please click here.

To keep up to date with Juvela's whereabouts click here.

We're looking forward to what is expected to be the largest gathering of coeliac experts in the world.  It will attract healthcare industry leaders, nutritionists, pharmaceutical executives, scientists, policy makers, patients and journalists. It will touch on every aspect of adult and paediatric coeliac disease - diagnosis, treatment, science and public policy. 

Sarah Sleet, our Chief Executive, and Norma McGough, our Dietetic Services Manager, will be attending from Coeliac UK.
If you would like to get in touch with the organisers directly, contact Cynthia Beckman at cb2280@columbia.edu or visit online. 

Try our Seeded Loaf – for FREE!

If you’ve never tried our Seeded Loaf before, now’s your chance. Made with poppy, linseed, millet, and sunflower seeds, it’s slice after slice of flavour and texture. So get your free loaf while you can by clicking here! 

Win gluten-free batter!

New Glu-2-Go fish batter, fritter batter, whatever you want to batter, batter that's gluten free. We have 40 packs to give away, enter here. Gluten Free shopping made easy at GoodnessDirect with hundreds of coeliac-friendly goodies to choose from. Call 08718716611 for catalogue 

For the first time or the first time in a long time, your menu can now include all your Chip Shop favourites with Glu-2-Go.

More information can be obtained from www.Glu-2-Go.co.uk Telephone: 01324 717273

You can still take a gluten free holiday at La Belle Demeure this season

As featured in Allergy Magazine

Find our latest summer offer at www.glutenfreeinfrance.com

Tel 0870 7605042 or 0033 545 32 68 49

Packing for your holidays?

Remember to put peace of mind in your pocket. 

Order your multilingual Classic Coeliac Cards today at www.dietarycard.co.uk and eat out without worry.

GFF Direct offer hundred’s of gluten and wheat free products from our website www.glutenfreefoodsdirect.co.uk or by mail order. To find out more about our dedicated gluten and wheat free shop call 01757 700636 or visit our website.

In a recent survey over 8 out of 10 coeliacs preferred Rizopia Organic Brown rice pasta to their normal pasta.

Available from all Health Food Shops.

For more information please visit PGR Health Foods at www.pgrhealthfoods.co.uk

Need a small, light, low cost portable toaster? Our Travel Toasters are the perfect solution. For gas or electric cookers. From only £3.99
Now available to order on-line www.traveltoasters.com Tel: 01522 576633

Pasta with meatballs in tomato sauce

A delicious Italian meatball and pasta dish covered in a tasty tomato sauce.

Servings: 6
Level of difficulty: Beginner - Intermediate
Preparation Time: 30 minutes - 75 minutes (75 minutes if making the pasta)
Cooking Time: 40 - 45 minutes

For the meatballs

Order 2 packs of gluten free Italian meatballs from Sally's Sizzling Sausage Co.

For the tomato sauce

• 1 onion
• 2 garlic clove
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp Butter
• 1 tbsp Olive oil, (not extra-virgin)
• 700g tomato passata (sieved tomatoes)
• 1 pinch Sugar
• 1 pinch salt and pepper
• 100ml full cream milk

For the pasta

Use pasta that you are happy with or alternatively follow the directions below to make your own.

• 225g / 8oz Amaranth flour
• 125g / 5oz Tapioca flour
• 1 Egg
• 1 tbsp Walnut oil
• 1-2 tablespoons water

Method

To make the tomato sauce

1. Put the onion, garlic and oregano into the process and blitz to a pulp.

2. Heat the butter and oil in a deep wide pan, then scrape the onion-garlic mix into it and cook over a low-medium for about 10 minutes. Don't let the mixture catch, just let it become soft.

3. Add the bottle of passata and then fill the empty bottle half full with cold water. Add this to the pan with the pinch of sugar, some salt and pepper, and cook for about 10 minutes. The tomato sauce will appear thin at this stage, but don't worry as it will thicken a little later.

4. Stir in the milk, and then drop the meatballs in one by one. Don't stir the pan until the meatballs have turned from pink to brown as you don't want to break them up.

5. Cook everything for about 20 minutes, with the lid only partially covering it. At the end of cooking time, check the seasoning as you may want more salt and a grind or two more of pepper.

To make the pasta

1. Stir together the flours into a large mixing bowl

2. Make a well in the centre then add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

3. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

4. Cover with clingfilm and allow to rest for 20 minutes

5. Roll out thinly. Get out your pasta machine, read the instructions and away you go. Two tips first: cut each slice you want to feed through the pasta machine as you go, and put through the no1 press quite a few times, folding the strip in half and pushing it through again after each time. When the pasta dough's been fed a few times through the no1 slot, pass it through the remaining numbers on the gauge, before pushing it through the tagliatelle-cutters.

6. When you cook the pasta, make sure you've got plenty of boiling salted water and start tasting immediately the water comes back to the boil after you've put the pasta in. Use about a third of the meatballs in their sauce to toss the cooked, drained pasta in and then pour the rest of them over the scantly sauced ribbons in the bowl.

You can also place an order with   Sally’s Sizzling Sausage Co. and receive 2 x 10 x 50gm packs of meatballs free of charge. Just enter exg6 into the promotional code box to add them free to your order.

All our products are wheat, gluten, soya, dairy and lactose free.