Recall: Deboles Kids Only Gluten-Free Pasta

This recall is for a new gluten-free pasta, DeBoles Kids Only! Gluten Free Tubettini Corn Pasta, which I just purchased at Whole Foods this week. The box I purchased is not part of the recall.

The recalled lot code is 30JUN11D1 and was sold in stores nationwide and online.  It may have undeclared whole wheat alphabet pasta, which is noticeably different from the yellow tube shaped pasta.  No other lots are affected. For more information, read this press release.

Scientists Discover Molecular Triggers of Celiac Disease

The results of a celiac disease study conducted in Australia are published in Science Translational Medicine (July 21, 2010 issue). The researchers collected blood samples from over 200 celiac patients after they ate gluten. They found three peptides, protein fragments, that appear to be causing the immune response to gluten in people with a genetic predisposition to celiac disease.  The T cell was also found to be the primary cell involved in the immune response.

Here is a quote from Dr. Fasano, which was found in the U.S. News and World Report article about this study.

"According to Dr. Alessio Fasano of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, the evidence is indeed strong that these three protein fragments trigger the celiac immune response, but 'I'm not sure that it's the end of the story,' he added. It remains possible that the screen didn't catch all the gluten components involved in the immune response, Fasano said."

In a few months, the Australian scientists expect to have results of the "phase I clinical trials on a drug based on the three gluten protein fragments they identified. The aim of the drug is to desensitize celiac patients to the offending proteins by presenting them in very controlled amounts."

Gluten-Free Videos: Fox News Strategy Room

Here are some good gluten-free video segments that recently aired on FoxNews.com on The Strategy Room, "the web's most talked about live show."  Marlisa Brown, author of Gluten-Free, Hassle Free, is one of the panelists in the videos.

If all the videos do not properly load on this page, click refresh or the play buttons at the bottom to watch them.














Click here to watch the fourth video segment, Gluten Alternatives.

Below is one more video I found on YouTube, which looks like it aired recently on the Fox News television channel.

Gluten-Free Baker Wins Cupcake Wars on the Food Network

Lisa Cowden, a baker at Gluten-Free Creations (GFC) bakery and LuLu's Cupcakes in Scottsdale, Arizona, won Cupcake Wars on the Food Network.  The episode called "Survival of the Fittest" airs on Sunday, July 11 at 5 pm and 11 pm ET/PT.  Here is a quote from Lisa.

"They're very natural, very good for you and I think that's one of the things that really came across with the judging. Our competitors are really tending to go less natural, a lot of artificial ingredients, and I think it counted against them in the end."

For more details, watch this video and read this article. 

Update:  The show did not mention gluten-free, so I contacted Gluten-Free Creations to find out if the cupcakes on the show were gluten-free. Here is their response.

"The cupcakes on the show were not made gluten-free. However, the same recipe works using our Gluten-free sweet Baking Mix."

Update December 2010: Read about gluten-free Crave Bake Shop on Cupcake Wars and gluten-free and vegan Sweet Freedom Bakery.

Update December 2011: Gluten-free cupcakes finally won Cupcake Wars when Crave Bake Shop returned to the show.

The Gluten-Free Guide to College

The Gluten-Free Guide to College is the result of a nationwide research study.  It is based on responses from over 70 gluten-free college students and ten anonymous interviews with dining services directors. Rebecca Panzer, a registered dietitian, shares professional advice in three areas: First Steps, Living On and Off Campus, and New Friends.  Click here to download the 12-page guide.  

"The research projected was conducted as the capstone to Rebecca Panzer, Ma, RD, LD’s master’s degree in Health Communication from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. It was completed in educational collaboration with the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The survey component of the study will be started again in late July through the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medication Center. Interested participants should contact celiac@bidmc.harvard.edu for more information."