4 replies to this topic

[tarnalberry]

While I get your point, some people still aren't up to speed on allergy. And some people treat allergy with more respect than intolerance. (Celiacs, even a bad case, is not at all likely to have you dead 30 minutes after a small exposure. Anaphylactic allergies are. So, people assume if it won't kill you right away, it's not awful if you get a bit.) Definitely more education is needed, and for those of us willing to answer the questions and take the odd looks, starting by saying "I'm gluten intolerant; eating wheat, barley, rye, or oats will make me very sick." is a good start.

[jendenise]

Although you all may not agree wth my way of getting the seriousness across I like it: I let my food servers, cooks, etc know that I have Celiac Disease and that it is a SEVERE intollerance to wheat, gluten, barley, and oats, and that even cross contamination can harm me. Then I ask them if they know what Celiac Disease is and if they understand it, if they do I leave it at that. However, if they don't I simply let them know that even the smallest amount of the ingredients I listed can kill me or make me violently ill very quickly, and that I would prefer my meals w/o garnish and everything served seperately and to please cross reference any "iffy" ingredients with my Celiac card. As far as the general public goes, all my friends, family and doctors are knowledgeable about it, and I'm always informing people about it when I can find a discussion starter.