FDA recall of Gluten-Free pancake and baking mixes

Due to traces of Salmonella and the potential for Salmonella contamination, Gluten-Free Naturals Foods has recalled its Pancake Mix, Light and Moist Yellow Cake Mix, and Cookie Blend Flour. The FDA recall press release, which includes the Lot numbers of recalled products, can be found here.

Gluten-free wheat under development

In February, the biosciences company Arcadia received an $855,500 grant to enter the second phase of developing wheat varieties with reduced celiac disease-causing proteins. The grant, from NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), is in collaboration with Washington State University, and will last for two-years. According to the press release, Phase I of the research successfully identified"wheat plants with low levels of proteins that are most toxic to individuals with celiac disease." Phase II is expected to last through mid-2011.

All indications are that gluten-free wheat will be available to our kids sometime in the not so distant future.

Kids with allergies article

Joyce Clark Hicks has a short, but interesting article about the challenges of raising kids with allergies in the current Independent Weekly. Looks like it may become a regular column!