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Celiac.com 05/17/2023 - In a shocking incident that highlights the need for greater celiac awareness and inclusivity, a Tuscan restaurateur recently turned away a customer simply because they were celiac. Celiac.com 05/16/2023 - The customer, Valentina Leporati, known as Valentina Gluten Free, a prominent social media figure with nearly 80,000 followers, shared this encounter on her platform and received an outpouring of support. According to Valentina, she was in the process of making a reservation for a party of ten, but when she informed the restaurant about their dietary restrictions, she was met with a blunt and dismissive response: "No, we don't admit celiacs here." Unfortunately, Valentina's is not an isolated incident. Prejudice against people with celiac disease is not uncommon. Although many restaurants will try to accommodate people with gluten restrictions, many others simply inform celiacs that they can't guarantee a gluten-free meal, but some restaurants can be rude or downright hostile. Valentina's experience resonates with many celiacs and gluten sensitive diners who have faced unpleasant episodes at restaurants. The fear and lack of understanding surrounding celiac disease can often trigger resistance. It raises the question: why are some restaurateurs hesitant to welcome gluten-free diners? For people living with celiac disease, booking a restaurant isn't just about finding a safe meal option; it about keeping safe by communicating their needs, and hoping that the restaurant is knowledgeable and accommodating. This vulnerability can make celiac individuals feel exposed and anxious from the very beginning. The response of "you are not accepted here, you cannot enter" is not only harsh, but also reflects a lack of awareness. Celiac disease is not a food allergy; it simply requires the avoidance of gluten. A little understanding and flexibility can go a long way in creating a welcoming environment. It can also mean more business via dedicated regular gluten-free diners looking for a safe, quality dining experience. Valentina, who also works in the food industry and operates a bakery/pastry shop in Sarzana, Liguria, chose not to name the specific restaurant, emphasizing her commitment to kindness over retaliation. However, she wanted to share her experience to shed light on the prevalent ignorance surrounding celiac disease, and the need for more education and acceptance by the restaurant industry in general. It's beneficial for restaurateurs to recognize the potential benefits of catering to gluten-free patrons and welcoming those with celiac disease. By offering gluten-free options and ensuring staff members are educated on dietary requirements, restaurants can tap into a growing market and enhance their reputation as inclusive establishments. Moreover, embracing the diverse needs of customers fosters a sense of community and demonstrates a commitment to customer satisfaction. While Valentina's experience was disheartening, her decision not to shame the restaurant, but instead raise awareness exemplifies her unwavering belief in kindness. This incident should serve as a catalyst for change, inspiring both consumers and restaurateurs to work together to eradicate ignorance, and build a more inclusive dining culture. Do you have a story of defensive, resistant, even hostile restaurant reactions to a gluten-free request? Share it in the comments below. Read more at breakinglatest.news

Celiac.com 10/24/2012 - Doctors can face challenges when attempting to diagnose celiac disease in patients who have already begun a gluten-free diet, and/or when the results of tests are inconsistent. To better understand this problem, a group of researchers set out to assess the benefits of an in vitro gliadin challenge. The research team included Raffaella Tortora, MD, Ilaria Russo, PhD, Giovanni D. De Palma, MD, Alessandro Luciani, PhD, Antonio Rispo, MD, Fabiana Zingone, MD, Paola Iovino, MD, Pietro Capone, MD and Carolina Ciacci, MD. The study cohort included 57 patients without celiac disease, 166 patients with untreated celiac disease, 55 patients with celiac disease on a gluten-free diet, and 59 patients with challenging diagnosis. The team provided all patients with endoscopy for collection of duodenal samples, which served for the diagnosis of celiac disease and for the in vitro evaluation of the gliadin-induced mucosal expression of seven inflammatory markers: PY99, ICAM-1 (intercellular cell adhesion molecule), HLA-DR, CD3, CD25, CD69, and transglutaminase 2 IgA. Diagnostic work-up for celiac disease included the search of specific serum antibodies. Researchers asked patients in the challenging diagnosis group to stop gluten-free diet to facilitate the search for these antibodies under untreated conditions. They used the area under the receptor-operated curve (ROC) for statistical analyses on accuracy. For patients with and without celiac disease (not including those on a gluten-free diet) HLA-DR offered the best accuracy for diagnosing celiac disease (area under ROC = 0.99). Combining the data from the HLA-DR with data of other markers did not increase test accuracy. The team found similar results in the 39 patients of the difficult diagnosis group undergoing the search celiac disease-speciï¬c antibodies under untreated conditions. In vitro testing of mucosal HLA-DR to gliadin is an accurate tool for the diagnosing celiac disease, and also works in patients who are hard to diagnose. Source: Am J Gastroenterol 2012; 107:111–117; doi:10.1038/ajg.2011.311; published online 27 September 2011