Ugh! England Labeling Frustrations

[majicbunnies]

I have been thinking about moving to England after college. BUT, I think I've changed my mind. I just read up on their labeling laws (Open Original Shared Link) and just because the 'majority' of Celiacs don't react to a certain level doesn't mean that it's not affecting their body, and you should allow gluten at all in something that is supposed to be 'gluten free'!! I don't want it to be so risky. I'm super sensitive, but sometimes I don't notice gluten right away. What will happen in that case is during the next week or so, I'll get anxiety, 'D' sometimes, foggy brain, etc. I can't risk small amounts of gluten is my point. I'm super careful with my food, appliances, and cookware. I know my body doesn't like gluten so I don't want ANY in it. Even less than 200ppm, or whatever grams...

I guess I'm just ranting.

Is anyone else here as cautious as I am? I don't even allow myself vanilla made with grain alcohol. I got sick before when I ate a chocolate bar that seemed gluten-free. I called the company after I got 'D' and they said the vanilla contains 1% gluten from the alcohol it's extracted from (they said from the extract, but I'm assuming it's the alcohol they were talking about?), "but an employee we have who has Celiac isn't affected by it"... so?

It's not even about getting physically sick. I don't want my body having any gluten because I know that in some way, it is affecting my body weather I feel it or not. I don't allow myself distilled vinegar because I read an article saying that scientists wont admit distillation removes grain, because there are chances that gluten gets through. I always like to site my sources, but I don't have the article bookmarked!

They just have to get around leaving out wheat 100% because it saves them money and makes things 'taste better'.

bleh

[MauriceReed]

My understanding is that the U.K. has some of the best food labelling regulations that there are. Due to pressure form Coeliac U.K. food manufacturers clearly label products that contain Gluten and also foods which although they do not contain gluten are produced in a plant where other products do contain gluten and therefore there is a risk of cross-conrtamination.

If you go to www.coeliac.org.uk you will find lots of useful info about Coeliac awareness in the UK.

In your case you may be super-sensitive in relation to gluten but the majority aren't.

In comparing the UK to much of the rest of the world we at least aknowledge coeliac disease and even provide foods on presription through our National Health Service. So many other countries are years behind us or are not bothered about food labelling.

You say you are thinking of moving to England, may I ask where from?

[gfp]

just because the 'majority' of Celiacs don't react to a certain level doesn't mean that it's not affecting their body, and you should allow gluten at all in something that is supposed to be 'gluten free'!!

CUK are funded by the food companies....

It is convenient for the food companies to be able to call gluten-lite glutenfree.

There is NO evidence at all that this does not cause damage to any c(o)elaic...

In your case you may be super-sensitive in relation to gluten but the majority aren't.

there is NO evidence for this. CUK will not provide it nor back it up because they are paid for from the food manufacturers.

Besides: this defies all logic....

10 years ago diagosis was 1:5000 people... then it was good enough to say we should have gluten-free food.

Now CUK are saying (without any evidence) that if it makes a minority sick then its OK.

My understanding is that the U.K. has some of the best food labelling regulations that there are. Due to pressure form Coeliac U.K. food manufacturers clearly label products that contain Gluten and also foods which although they do not contain gluten are produced in a plant where other products do contain gluten and therefore there is a risk of cross-conrtamination.

CUK actively campaigned AGAINST better labelling because they said WE were too stupid to read it (well they actually said it was 'confusing')

CUK get paid for inclusions in their directory: CUK wanted everyone to have to use thier directory...

Evidence did exist: CUK partly sponsored the study.. when the study proved small amounts of gluten damaged celiacs they buried the study...

In comparing the UK to much of the rest of the world we at least aknowledge coeliac disease and even provide foods on presription through our National Health Service.

No we do not, almost all foods available on prescription are NOT gluten free (again thanks to CUK) but gluten free according to the Codex alimentarius

[majicbunnies]

CUK are funded by the food companies....

It is convenient for the food companies to be able to call gluten-lite glutenfree.

There is NO evidence at all that this does not cause damage to any c(o)elaic...

there is NO evidence for this. CUK will not provide it nor back it up because they are paid for from the food manufacturers.

Besides: this defies all logic....

10 years ago diagosis was 1:5000 people... then it was good enough to say we should have gluten-free food.

Now CUK are saying (without any evidence) that if it makes a minority sick then its OK.

CUK actively campaigned AGAINST better labelling because they said WE were too stupid to read it (well they actually said it was 'confusing')

CUK get paid for inclusions in their directory: CUK wanted everyone to have to use thier directory...

Evidence did exist: CUK partly sponsored the study.. when the study proved small amounts of gluten damaged celiacs they buried the study...

No we do not, almost all foods available on prescription are NOT gluten free (again thanks to CUK) but gluten free according to the Codex alimentarius

Thank you for your reply!

[majicbunnies]

My understanding is that the U.K. has some of the best food labelling regulations that there are. Due to pressure form Coeliac U.K. food manufacturers clearly label products that contain Gluten and also foods which although they do not contain gluten are produced in a plant where other products do contain gluten and therefore there is a risk of cross-conrtamination.

If you go to www.coeliac.org.uk you will find lots of useful info about Coeliac awareness in the UK.

In your case you may be super-sensitive in relation to gluten but the majority aren't.

In comparing the UK to much of the rest of the world we at least aknowledge coeliac disease and even provide foods on presription through our National Health Service. So many other countries are years behind us or are not bothered about food labelling.

You say you are thinking of moving to England, may I ask where from?

I just want so badly to have people realize that gluten free should mean ZERO amounts of gluten in a product!

Like I said, just because the majority of Celiacs aren't as sensitive, it doesn't mean their bodies aren't being affected when they don't get physical symptoms from ingesting gluten.

Right now I am in living in southern california. I just moved here from northern california (USA) and I like it, but I know someday I will want to move again.