After two years of hard work and multiple submissions from Coeliac UK, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is going to develop a clinical guideline on the recognition and diagnosis of adults with coeliac disease.

This is a key target realised for the Charity, and will undoubtedly result in earlier diagnosis for many people with the condition in the future.  It will also enable us to measure performance against nationally accepted guidelines.  While the details are still to be worked out, this is a major breakthrough in our campaign to improve diagnosis rates. 

The Volunteers' Conference, held at the Royal College of Physicians, London, was a great success and an enjoyable day for everyone.

As well as presentations to keep the attendees up-to-date with new developments, there was a presentation for the winners of the Supporters Awards.  The Question and Answer session on the possible introduction of membership fees was very interesting, with presentations from both sides of the argument.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, so thank you to all those who made the journey on the day, and we look forward to seeing you next year.

Thank you to those of you who have sent in your postal vote concerning the introduction of an annual membership fee for Coeliac UK.  It is great to see so many members making their voice heard.

If you have not made use of your postal vote, there is still time.  You can fill in your ballot paper that was sent out in the Autumn edition of Crossed Grain and return it to Member Vote 2007, Coeliac UK, Suites A-D, Octagon Court, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 2HS by 2pm, 8th November.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Alternatively you can vote at the special members meeting on Saturday 10th November at 2pm, Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H8EP. Doors open from 1.30pm for tea and coffee and you will have the chance to ask the Governors for further clarification about the proposal before a vote is taken. We look forward to seeing you there.

After publishing two dangerously inaccurate stories on spelt flour we are pleased to announce that, following Sarah Sleet's letter to the editor, a correction has been printed by the Independent.

The correction, printed on 23 October, stated that spelt "contains wheat and is not safe for people who need a gluten-free diet. Spelt flour can be toxic to people with coeliac disease".  This about turn is a fantastic result and is testimony to Coeliac UK's ongoing campaign to raise awareness and ensure that correct information on a gluten-free diet and coeliac disease is available in the media.

To read Sarah's letter, click here.  To read the full correction, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.

After consultation earlier this year, we now have more information on the Gluten-free Food Review undertaken by the Northamtonshire PCT.

It is proposed that, following diagnosis by the GP, all supplies of gluten-free foods will be managed by the community pharmacist including an ordering system in line with Coeliac UK guidelines.  The pharmacist will carry out an initial consultation with the patient, with six-monthly reviews to consider new products and change quantities if required. 

This service will be rolled out gradually across the county and will take some time as there are currently 115 pharmacies in which to implement the system.  The process should hopefully be completed by the end of the financial year.

AOECS (Association of European Coeliac Societies) had a stand at the United European Gastroenterology Week session from 27th - 31st October at Le Palais des Congrès de Paris, France.

This was a great opportunity to get information about coeliac disease to the people who make the initial diagnosis and manage your aftercare.  The event was also used as a platform to launch the International Coeliac Disease Symposium in 2009.

The winners of the Supporter Awards, kindly sponsored by Juvela, were announced at the Volunteers' Conference on 13 October. 

Each winner has gone that extra mile to support the coeliac community and we commend each and every one for their contribution.  The winners are:

Fellow coeliac category - Rene Eastwood
Family member category - Cliff Jenkins
Family member category - Donna Gould and Robert Spencer
Supporting a friend category - Fiona Rintoul
GP category - Dr Alison McLeod
Dietitian category - Beverley Spicer
Pharmacist category - Wendy  Griffiths
Community support (other category) - Carol Jones

Thank you to all those who took the time to nominate, and for those who weren't selected as winners, please continue to make a difference to people with coeliac disease.

We are very grateful to Juvela for sponsoring these awards.

Please keep your questions coming in for Dr Chris Steele, the first ambassador of Coeliac UK, for the Spring edition of Crossed Grain. 

He'll be doing a Question and Answer feature for us and is happy to answer questions on a range of topics, from his time on This Morning to his role as Coeliac UK's first ambassador, so do make the most of this fantastic opportunity!

Please submit your questions* to us, in 20 words or so, by email with DR CHRIS STEELE in the subject line to contact@coeliac.org.uk

*Please note, we cannot print or respond to every question asked and may have to shorten your questions due to editorial space.

Following the recent tightening of security at airports, travelling with gluten-free food has been more difficult for people with coeliac disease.  This was the inspiration for the conception of The Green Box Co. and their Green Box: an environmentally friendly, secure meal solution for people with specialist dietary needs.

Each box is sealed and includes a menu card with a description of your meal.  There are boxes with menus to cover every meal, so whatever time of day you fly, you can be certain you'll be catered for.

Green Box Co. have worked with Coeliac UK on this, and the boxes went into use on First Choice airlines on 1st November.  Other airlines have also taken an interest.

Learn how to cook gluten-free with LucyCooks Cookery School in the Lake District. To win a full day gluten-free cookery course for two people, answer the following question:

Where in the Lake District is LucyCooks based?

Send your answers to LucyCooks - Crossed Grain Competition, Mill Yard, Staveley, Nr Kendal, Cumbria, The Lake District, LA8 9LR. Tel: 01539 432288. The closing date for entries is 14th December. The winner will be notified before Christmas.

See page 39 of your autumn Crossed Grain for your entry form and more information.

We have 15 toastabag© sets to give away!

If you would like to win one, then please email contact@coeliac.org.uk with TOASTABAG GIVEAWAY in the subject line.  The first 15 responses will be the winners so be sure to leave your name and full address in the email.

Gloria Joiner and her committee did a sterling job at organising this year's Fenland and District Food Fair on Saturday 20 October at the National Centre for Deafblindness in Peterborough.

It was the second food fair held by the Group and the event has gone from strength to strength with this year seeing over 400 people through the doors.

Gloria's dedication is reflected in the considerable time she devotes to Coeliac UK, her Group and committee, year on year.

The food fair was extremely well organised by Barbara Bainbridge and her team and the volunteers on the day were second to none.

The day was jam-packed with talks from Consultant Rheumatologist, Dr Annie Cooper regarding bone health in coeliac disease; Sarah Sleet, Coeliac UK's Chief Executive on moving coeliac disease into the mainstream and a very interesting presentation from Dr Richard Aspinall, Consultant Gastroenterologist at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, about staying healthy with coeliac disease.

The Winchester Guildhall was a delightful venue that gave an almost luxurious feel to the fair and it was a pleasure to be there amongst the many manufacturers in the main hall.

Their first food fair for some time was a huge success with a healthy turnout and an opportunity to raise awareness about coeliac disease.

The fair was held at Bath City Football Ground and was attended by over 400 people from far and wide who came to see 17 exhibitors showcasing the latest in gluten-free products. 

A healthy donation to Coeliac UK was the result of everyone's hard work, but a special mention must go to Adrian Bass who organised most of the day.

Cathy and Alan Holmes and the Hereford Support Group held their first food fair on Sunday 14 October at the Halo Leisure Centre in Hereford.

Cathy and Alan worked very hard for this event, achieving coverage in the local press and on local radio. With a range of gluten-free food manufacturers, including a gluten-free fish and chip shop, over 1300 people enjoyed a very well organised event. A fantastic first event for the group, and hopefully the first of many to come!

Well done to Jasmine Portway for all her efforts during Awareness Week! 

Jasmine helped raise funds with a 5p piece race at Upminster Infants School and made a healthy donation to Coeliac UK.

We'd like to apologise for misspelling her name in the autumn edition of Crossed Grain.

This week Chief Executive Sarah Sleet met with Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon MSP to discuss the lack of diagnosis of coeliac disease in Scotland. It was a positive first meeting and gave us the opportunity to lay down our key priorities for Coeliac UK in Scotland. We called for awareness among healthcare professionals to be improved, better access to treatment and firm commitments to improve the quality of life of coeliacs in Scotland. We look forward to working closely with the Minister and cross-party MSPs in the future.
 
What we asked for:
• A Scotland-wide awareness campaign aimed at health professionals backed by the Scottish Government
• A Scottish register of people diagnosed with the condition to measure and target improved diagnosis rates
• A pilot project which aims to improve identification of people with the condition by improving access to the blood test
• Backing from the Scottish Government for the Charity's campaign to make a gluten-free meal available at every mealtime in hospitals and care homes
• Scottish retails encouraged to use clear labelling on their products
• A Scottish Government backed campaign promoting the implementation of the loose foods guidance
• A national conference for the food sector to encourage Scotland's entire food chain to respond to this market opportunity.

Do you have a story about struggling to maintain your lifestyle while you manage a gluten-free diet? Have you ever become ill after being assured that the meal you ordered at a restaurant was gluten-free? Do you want to help others by telling your story of living with coeliac disease? If so, then Coeliac UK needs your help!

Following the great success of Awareness Week 2007 when almost 40 case studies were featured in the national and regional media we now need at least another 100 new case studies to help get your stories and voices heard in your local media. 

It is important that we have case studies spanning Britain as well as stories from people of all ages.  If you are willing to speak to the press about your experiences of living on a gluten-free diet we would like to hear from you - the more unusual the better! 

Being a media case study usually involves talking to a journalist for 20 minutes or so (usually by phone) and they normally require a recent photo but we will be in touch with you first to discuss what they have requested.

If you would be happy to do this please download the attached form, fill in as much details as you can and return to casestudies@coeliac.org.uk. 

To read more on the need for case studies, please click here.

Please note there are no guarantees your story will be used by the media.

As part of our on going Hospital Food Campaign and to support people with coeliac disease going into hospital, Coeliac UK is currently putting together a pack to help support individuals at ward level. This will consist of leaflets and information for ward staff.

The pack should hopefully be ready by the end of December (we will keep you posted!), but if you are going into hospital before then, don't forget that we already have a hospital leaflet that will give you lots of information before you go into hospital. Call our helpline (0870 444 8804) or email us to get a copy, clearly indicating 'going into hospital' leaflet.    

Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) is the name given to the type of gut cancer associated with coeliac disease (CD).

This study looked at the effect of the gluten-free diet on the development of EATL in people with CD.

1,757 patients diagnosed with CD (by blood test and small bowel biopsy) were followed for an average of 18 years.  Participants were asked how often they ate gluten and monitored for the development for EATL. The average age of diagnosis for CD was 47 years.

The results showed that 63% of patients strictly followed a gluten-free diet after diagnosis, although 10% reported consuming an unrestricted (gluten-containing) diet.  During the study period, nine participants developed EATL; only four of these reported to have followed a strict gluten-free diet following diagnosis of CD.

Since the information used in this study regarding gluten ingestion is self-reported by the participants, it is possible that the level of gluten intake is underestimated.

The researchers conclude that these findings demonstrate that a strict gluten-free diet following diagnosis of CD is protective towards the development of gastrointestinal lymphoma.

Silano M et al (Accepted July 2007) Digestive Disorders Science [Epub ahead of print]

Everyclick.com is a search engine that allows you to raise money for Coeliac UK as you search the web. It is a simple and highly effective way of raising money and has already raised over £300,000 for charities in the UK. There is no sign up fee or hidden charge, just click here and select Coeliac UK, fill in the registration form, save the homepage and raise funds for your charity it's that easy!

Following the successful trip to Luxembourg earlier this year (organised by the Beds and Mid Herts Coeliac Group) another trip is being arranged on 25 September 2008 to the Limburg Province (Belgium and Southern Holland).

The 4* hotel in Hasselt accommodates coeliacs. It will be for 4 nights half board and includes a full and varied excursion programme. Committee member, Adam Kuzminski, will be organising this trip. Coach pick up points have currently been arranged for North Herts, but dependent on numbers it may be possible to arrange additional pick up points. Deposits of £60 each will need to be paid by 21.12.07.

If you are interested in this trip you can contact Adam for more information and a booking form on adam@kuzminski.co.uk or call 01462 620317.

Here is just a sample of what is going on over the next month - However, there is so much more happening in and around your area. To find out dates, times, details and other events please click here.

10 November 2007 Chelmsford Group
Bangers and Bonfire night!  Bring the whole family for a feast around a blazing fire.  4pm, £5 per adult, £3 per child. Stubbers Adventure Centre, Ockendon Road, Upminster. 

14 November 2007 Cornwall Group
Please note, the Natternight has changed from the advertised date of 21st November.  Come along for questions and answers evening with consultant physician Dr I Murray and dietitians. 7.30pm Archbishop Benson School, Mitchell Road Hill, Truro.

16 November 2007 Wakefield and District Group
Continental Evening!  Enjoy an evening of salad buffet supper with wine and some light entertainment.  St Peter and St Pauls Roman Catholic Church, Standbridge Lane, Sandal, Wakefield.

17 November 2007 West Cumbria Group
Come and see many exhibitors and cookery demonstrations at our Christmas Food Fair.  Doors open 10.30-2.30pm.  Cumberland Hall, Ullswater Community College, Wetheriggs Lane, Penrith, CA11 8NG. 

18 November 2007 Wirral Group
Children's Christmas Party.  Open to all coeliac children, not just those in the Wirral Group.  Each coeliac child can bring siblings or one friend.  Admission free with a donation bucket and raffle.  There will be a magician, gluten-free buffet and a present for each child.  Party from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.  Ellesmere Port Civic Hall, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0AZ. 

22 November 2007 Belfast Group 
Come along to Sainsbury's for a tasting of their gluten-free products. 7.30pm, Sainbury's, Forestside Shopping Centre, Upper Galwally, Belfast, County Antrim, BT8 6FX.  Please email the group organiser to attend (see events calendar on the website for further details).

30 November 2007 Gloucestershire Group
Join the Christmas Social at Marinades Restaurant.  Choose from Traditional meals, plus Caribbean and Mediterranean choices. Book your place through the Gloucestershire Group.  7.30pm. Marinades, Church Street, Newent, GL18 1PU.

1 December 2007 Tayside Group
Get in the Christmas spirit with this Christmas Fair including crafts, home baking, Christmas goods and the Dunkeld Bell Ringers.  2pm, Scone, Old Parish Church Hall.

Juvela are delighted to be sponsoring Coeliac UK's 'What's on' section on eXG for 2007. To find out more information on what's on in your area click here! 

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

Saag Tikka Masala

Makes 4 servings
Preparation time 5 mins
Cooking time 15 mins

Ingredients:

• 200g Passage to India Simmer Sauce, Tikka Masala
• 500g diced chicken thigh meat
• 100g baby spinach
• 2 tsps oil for frying

Method:

1. Heat the oil in a small saucepan
2. Add the chicken and cook on high for 2 minutes until the chicken seals
3. Add Tikka Masala Simmer Sauce to the chicken, stir, cover pan and leave to simmer until the chicken is tender
4. Add baby spinach and allow to simmer for 2 minutes

Serving suggestions

Serve with a gluten-free naan bread available from Morrisons Supermarkets or with basmati rice.

Thank you to Passage Foods for sponsoring this recipe. For more information, click here.

The essence of the Passage to India product range is twofold. It is the successful combination of authentic Indian cuisine using traditional domestic recipes together with state of the art technology. This combination ensures production of commercial quantities without a compromise in the quality, flavour and texture of traditional Indian home cooking.  

The Passage to India range is all natural. No non-natural additives, preservatives, gluten, cornflour or MSG are used in Passage to India products. Additionally, Passage to India products are certified free from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO Free). The combination of these two factors justifies the statement, “All natural ingredients".

The best thing since sliced Fresh bread!

We were inundated with requests for our October free sample promotion.  We've been working around recent postal strikes, so if you haven't received your bread yet, you should be enjoying some soon! Not only is Glutafin Select Fresh Brown Bread high in fibre and calcium and a good source of iron, it's deliciously fresh and ready to eat straight from the bag. 

If you missed our promotion, don't miss out!  Add an order to your prescription  (PIP code  330 - 6800) and discover a whole new way to enjoy your bread.

At Asda, we've just relaunched our range of Free From foods!  Every store now has a fantastic range with loads of new lines! 

We love the Livwell Jaffa Cakes, which are gluten and wheat free and the Livwell seeded bread - we're 100% confident we've found the best bread in the market. 

Get down to Asda now and check out the new range! Ranges vary from store to store, so call 0845 300 1111 or ask at Customer Services to find your local store with the largest range.

Or you can shop online and get Free From products delivered to your door!

Go on, indulge yourself....

Introducing our seductive new Gluten free and Wheat free Luxury Chocolate Biscuits.  Irresistibly tempting biscuits smothered in luxurious dark chocolate, perfect for curling up on the sofa with a good film.  Available in Sainsbury's, Asda, Waitrose and Somerfield.

To celebrate the launch of these scrumptious biscuits, we have 500 free samples to give away, click here to claim your free sample. 

For more offers and all the latest news about Trufree why not sign up to our e-newsletter?  Click here to visit our homepage to register.

Our Christmas range stands out by virtue of its taste & quality.

Produced to excellent standards in a dedicated gluten-, wheat- and dairy-free bakery, our award winning range consists of cake, puddings and mince pies. Our delicious
mince pies are bursting with succulent fruit mincemeat and are encased in sweet pastry... one of the few products to master the art of gluten-free baking!

www.village-bakery.com

Summer/autumn holidays, France. 1850's Dordogne Chateau.  Full board, Gluten-free kitchen. Extensive grounds and pool.  Completely renovated this year. 12 guests maximum.  Relax and Rejuvenate! En-suite rooms remain for our extended 2007 season until mid-November.
+33 (0) 53 54 88 64
www.chateaudevillars.co.uk

Traditional festive favorites from advent calendars to Christmas cakes and puddings, mince pies to Christmas novelties now available from GFF Direct www.gffdirect.co.uk plus over 700 more gluten free products. Mail order catalogue available please call 01757 289200 .

Fibrex, a naturally gluten-free fibre (67% AOAC) from sugar beet, can supplement your diet.  Use in bakery and meat products or sprinkle at breakfast.

Find recipes and order from www.theingredient.co.uk
2 x 200g packs £2.20 + £2.00 P&P.

Beat the Christmas rush, place your order today!  A free pack of Honeybuns Rudolf's Reward - irresistible rice crispie cakes with real Belgian chocolate - for the first 50 customers who order £30 or more.  Please quote promotional code NOVHB.

Web: www.johnsonsprovisions.co.uk  Tel: 0800 688 8969.

Rizopia Gluten Free Organic Brown Pasta is now available in Lasagne and Fantasia shapes (Children's Pasta).
It is full of all the goodness of whole grain organic brown rice.  It is healthy, natural and easy to digest.
Available from Health Food Shops.
For more information please visit PGR Health Foods at www.pgrhealthfoods.co.uk

New Smooth Chip Shop Style Curry Sauce now available!

As well as our popular Fish & Chip Shop Batter Mix which is authentic, crispy, golden, delicious and easy to use.

Enjoy all your favourites with Glu-2-Go!  Visit our website www.glu2go.co.uk to purchase online.  Telephone: 01324 717273.

Travelling to a Winter Wonderland?  DietaryCard want you to get the best out of those Christmas markets.

Order a Classic Coeliac EastEuroPack including Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian & Russian translations of your diet and we’ll throw in a German card as a treat.  That’s 6 Dietary Alert Cards for £20 including delivery.  

This offer is valid until Hogmanay.   www.dietarycard.co.uk  01506 635358.

Choose from Standard Gluten-free Wafers, made from rice flour, potato flour, tapioca flour and natural gum or Low Gluten Wafers made with wheat starch.  Both conform to within the Codex standard.  Each wafer is square so can be distinguished from gluten-containing wafers, and is packaged in a resealable bag.

These unique products are handmade by the Sisters at an Anglican and Catholic convent and the business is non-profit organisation. 

Place your orders on 01293 517658 or email glutenfree@btconnect.com