BrisQuil

The 12th International Celiac Symposium was recently held in New York (Nov 2006) and what most Australian doctors took away from it was how little the North American doctors knew about it. These posts prove that. That is a terrible (stupid, unethical....) thing to say to a coeliac. Accidental poisoning is inevitable, so why add to your risk?

It is a crying shame you know, with the large population of coeliacs in North America (300 millions Americans, 30+ million Canadians) that the medical community is lagging behind you all.

As an avid traveller, I can thoroughly recommend UK and Australia for gluten-free dieters! I have always found the US very difficult to negotiate. After the language barrier, there is the general community's lack of knowledge. There are excellent (exceptional) products available in specialty stores etc, but the average traveller doesn't usually have access to, or find these, especially with a tour for example. You will find waiters and waitresses and chefs are more likely to know about it here (although I still get the occasional 'blank look').

I can only speak for Australia (New Zealand is a little harder, but still OK) and UK and Argentina (and that is Spanish, but I still did it!) but it will be easy for you to find your way around a gluten-free diet here. In the medical community it was just discussed at an international conference how low the awareness of coeliac disease is in North America and certainly medical awareness and general community and restaurant awareness is much higher here (the products in the supermarkets might not be as good, but otherwise we are pretty good) than US or Canada.

Spare a thought for Finland - the incidence is 1 in 50 there. Maybe the rumours of gluten-free McDonald's burgers are true. That's more common than diabetes!

Don't forget that what they will allow you to take on the plane itself is very different to what you are allowed to bring into the country. Someone suggested cheese and salami - great for the flight (really good idea BTW) but don't try bringing either into Australia! You will find yourself on our programme 'Border Security' which films in the airports. Nothing fresh, dairy, meat or egg based can come in.

Processed goods such as snack bars, rice cakes etc are fine. But truly, I wouldn't bother bringing any of that if you are coming to Australia - stock up once you get here at a Woolworths or Coles or health food store. The exchange rate is probably better anyway!

I find travelling in Continental US and Canada problematic. Most of the carriers don't do special meals, the airports have very little to eat (maybe a plain salad, or some fries - after questioning the attendant) and delays are inevitable. I need my snacks on those flights. Your tips have been really helpful. Thanks.

Do beware though, speaking as someone from a country with some of the tightest quarantine laws in the world, that you will not be permitted to bring any products containing fresh food (fruit, vegetables, seeds etc), meat or dairy products and eggs into Australia or New Zealand. Processed foods etc are fine, but you will be throwing them all out in Customs. It would be such a pity to carry them all that way to have to throw them out. Check out websites before you go. Unfortunately our special circumstances aren't enough to jeopardise an entire countries livestock and produce!

Sorry folks, but gluten is definitely not absorbed through the skin. It is a complex protein, and as such not absorbed anywhere except the gastrointestinal tract. Cosmetics etc can be a problem since licking of lips etc can cause you to ingest them. But skin no. And the digestive enzymes for gluten only exist in the small intestine.

Alternatively, the diagnosis of dermatitis herpetiformis comes to mind, which of course you know is linked to coeliac disease.