Google Map of places to eat Gluten Free in NYC!

With being on spring break this week I have plans to be in the city a lot. I love going to NYC, just a short train ride away, and having tons of Gluten Free eating options! Among my favorites are Risotteria down in the Village on Bleecker, Mozzarelli’s (on 23rd btw park & b'way ….), Lili’s 57 (mid-town on 7th Ave at 57th st) and Lili and Loo’s (on Lex at 62nd st). There is also always a Chipotle around if you’re in need of quick food and a Starbucks on every corner, which now carries Lucy’s GF cookies in addition to KIND bars. There are also 2 bakeries to choose from now, BabyCakes which offers GF products on the lower east side, and the new Tu-Lu’s Bakery (on East 11th)which is fully Gluten Free!

A tremendous resource in finding where to eat or shop gluten free is the NYC GF google map created by Erin at GlutenFreeFun.blogspot.com! Thanks Erin for creating this awesome list and taking the time to help us find places to eat GF!! Next time you are going to NYC check out this map first to find Gluten Free friendly places to eat!

http://glutenfreefun.blogspot.com/2010/01/gluten-free-new-york-city-map.html


Erin motivated me to do the same, so I have started a Long Island google map and it will be up shortly!

-Sue

If the above link does not work here is the link to the GF NYC Google map directly… http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107361756935984439423.000463eb6f9496e7c7e29&source=embed&ll=40.801856,-73.953094&spn=0.200112,0.429153&z=11

Warning: Snyder's of Hannover's plans for GF pretzels- but not factoring in Cross-Contamination Issues!!

Please see below post from blogger Gluten Free Mom, http://glutenfreemom.typepad.com/gluten_free_mom/2010/03/gluten-free-call-to-action.html about an alarming account of Snyder’s of Hannover’s plans to make a GF product but are not taking cross-contamination precautions seriously. I am disgusted by this and their total lack of concern that all of us "Celiacs" would get VERY VERY sick from this!

I am just pasting her entire entry here, because it is that important to get the word out...
-Sue

UPDATE: We received word from the Gluten Intolerance Group that Snyder's has now contacted GIG to begin the steps of properly becoming certified Gluten Free! So they must have received the message from us all that it DOES matter if they do things correctly so that none of us get sick!
_______________________________________________

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://glutenfreemom.typepad.com/gluten_free_mom/2010/03/gluten-free-call-to-action.html

March 29, 2010

Gluten Free Call to Action

I received the following from someone who I really respect in the gluten free community. Jules is completely dedicated to making this a better gluten free world. Please read the following:

Are you willing to be poisoned?　 For profit?

I apologize for the alarm, but where food safety and our health are concerned, silence is not an option. I hope you agree.

This month I met a senior executive of a food company that is launching a new gluten-free product. When I asked why their product was not certified gluten-free,　I was discouraged (because I usually only eat products that are certified). As we discussed their reasons, and their casual and dangerous interpretation of what "gluten free" means,　my stomach knotted,　by blood pressure rose and I was moved to write a letter to their CEO.

Please read the letter,　and join me and thousands of gluten-free consumers who will not be taken advantage of for profit’s sake. 　The incredible growth of the gluten-free segment of the food industry is usually a positive development for those of us adhering to this eating style. But this growth also is fraught with perils,　as uncaring, uninformed companies disregard our health in their eager attempts to capture their share of our dollars. I’ve long compelled my readers to not patronize companies that produce inferior products; to not compromise on taste. Nor should we blindly flock like underfed lemmings to the snack food aisle to purchase the latest "gluten-free" offerings…without proof of the companies’ commitment to protecting our health.

Until now, I had nothing against this company, but in light of what I learned directly from a senior executive, I feel nothing but an all-out boycott of this product by the gluten-free community will suffice.　 We need to send a message that our collective purchasing power is powerful indeed. And that gluten-free consumers deserve the safety,　care and accountability that marketing a product to us demands. Your swift and committed response will send a message not only to this company,　but will serve as a warning to others who want to capitalize on us without doing their diligence.

Don’t remain silent. Exercise your right! Voice your concerns by contacting the President and CEO of Snyder's of Hanover directly, Mr. Carl Lee at SOH@snyders-han.com.

Then please pass on this letter to all those you care about who live gluten free.　

The gluten-free community is a tight-knit one,　indeed.　 Let’s harness the power we have in our numbers,　and raise our voices.　 We will not be exploited!

~jules shepard

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Carl Lee

President & CEO

Snyder's of Hanover

VIA FAX 717-632-7207

March 26, 2010

Dear Sir,

Your company has undoubtedly identified the gluten-free segment of the food market as a high-growth opportunity. You are about to learn how vital truly gluten-free foods are to the health of this same population – a population which can be very vocal when they think they are being taken advantage of and when their health is placed in jeopardy.

I met with your Vice President of Marketing at Expo West and engaged him in a discussion about your new gluten-free pretzels. I was initially excited about this brand new offering, but I soon became horrified at your company's reckless disregard for the safety of the population to which you hope to market this product.

When I asked about why Snyder's isn't GF certified, your VP of Marketing, Rudi Fischer, brushed off the notion, explaining that the company had explored the requirements of certification, and "didn't want the headaches" that came with it. He elaborated that Snyder's didn't want to have to do any product recalls or lose inventory because any given run may test at over 20 ppm gluten. He even threw out the example that if someone "forgot to wash down the line" between gluten and gluten-free runs, he didn't want to have to "report to anyone else, pull inventory or do any recalls of product". He went so far as to say that although the bags are currently labeled "Gluten Free" and also "Wheat Free," the company is actually going to take off the "Wheat Free" designation since the products are run with wheat products and are potentially contaminated with wheat. Shockingly, he indicated that the "Gluten Free" label will remain, however.

Your VP also said your company is not really concerned with the gluten ppm test results since, he said, "only 3 million people are celiac, and most of them don't even know it yet." He identified your target market as "the other 22 million eating gluten free, just because.s" He indicated that this market segment wouldn't really care if your products contained 20ppm or 23ppm gluten. Can he be serious? When I inquired as to why on earth Snyder's would enter this marketplace (with this approach), he answered, "Because Glutino is making a killing with their pretzels."

This 3-ppm increase in gluten could trigger any number of symptoms in celiacs, or in those who "merely" eat gluten free, ranging from painful gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea and cramping, to nutrient malabsorption, painful skin lesions, joint inflammation, fatigue, infertility and miscarriage, and of course, headaches – although apparently ours are not as serious as the headaches your VP indicated would come with gluten-free certification.

I spent the afternoon before the Expo speaking at the Healthy Baking Seminar to more than 130 manufacturers who wanted to get gluten free right. Small and large companies which are willing to invest in educating themselves about the onerous responsibility of gluten-free food safety as well as the market opportunity it represents.

They know, as I wish your company did, that gluten free is not just about a market opportunity. It is a responsibility manufacturers bear when they enter this marketplace. Did you do more than buy the SPINS report, or did you actually talk to gluten-free consumers? In any of your focus groups, did anyone say that a 3-ppm increase (or more) in gluten is acceptable? One-eighth of a teaspoon of gluten-containing flour can cause a chain reaction of painful symptoms in gluten-free consumers from which it may take weeks to recover. The manufacturers who take this responsibility seriously and produce good products -- the ones who do it right -- like Glutino, can make "a killing." The ones who disregard the importance of the responsibility they bear, like Great Specialty Products (recently indicted in North Carolina on six counts of obtaining property by false pretenses by marketing bread as gluten-free that was not, in fact, gluten-free), will have far more to deal with than poor sales.

This is a critical juncture for Snyder's entering this market. As you will see, all eyes are now on you; you have the opportunity to do the right thing. If your product recovers from this misinformed beginning, it will be by finding an organization who is willing to train and certify you – and believe that when they walk out the door you will uphold their standards. It will also come from taking the time to understand your market and ingrain yourself into the gluten-free community by funding celiac research, by supporting efforts to raise awareness for the needs of the gluten-free community, and by proactively lobbying for tougher -- not looser -- labeling protocols. Take the high road and redeem your company, leading the category by example, or your "gluten-free" products will fail and much good will toward your company will be squandered.

　

Sincerely,

Jules E. D. Shepard

　

Gluten-Free Food Cart at Citifield!!

This is so exciting! Citifield will now have a gluten-free food cart sponsored by Kozy Shack! (and I thought I couldn't love Kozy Shack anymore than I already did!)... Not only will the cart have Kozy Shack puddings, (which are labeled GF, which makes it much easier when shopping) but the cart will feature gluten-free hot dogs, hamburgers with gluten-free buns (!!) and gluten-free beer!!!! How exciting will it be to go to the baseball game, and be able to eat a hot-dog and have a beer, just like everyone else?! I'm so glad I'm a Mets fan- but even if I wasn't, I now would be! Sorry Yankee fans, you'll just have to come watch with us!

See blurbs from the article- and click on the link for the whole article.

It's Amazin! Gluten-Free Eating Goes Mainstream at Citifield

"The Mets developed the stand-alone cart in response to one of the most common requests from fans, who asked for a gluten-free concession. In addition to Kozy Shack® gluten-free snacks, the cart will also feature hot dogs and hamburgers with gluten-free buns and gluten-free beer. Baseball fans can locate the cart on Field Level in the right field corner, just outside the World's Fare Market."

it continues...

"Dietary restrictions are a growing concern in the food industry and we have always strived to make our products available to meet all consumer needs and palates," says Kozy Shack® CEO Bob Striano. "We're excited to further our partnership with the Mets and offer fans a designated cart for gluten-free food products. It's a home run for everyone."


Read more:

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/it39s-amazin-gluten-free-eating-goes-mainstream-at-citifield,1219725.shtml


Lets all go to the ballgame!

Here is a photo of the new Gluten-Free Shack from NewsCom.com! (LOVE IT!)
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/pub/s?f=PRN/prnpub&page=1&xtag=PRN-prnphotos-91009&redir=detail&TAG_ID=prnphotos091009

GF Food Recall -some GFN Foods products potentially contaminated with Salmonella

GFN Foods, LLC Voluntarily Recalls Gluten-Free Naturals Pancake Mix, Gluten-Free Naturals Light & Moist Yellow Cake Mix and Gluten-Free Naturals Cookie Blend Flour

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 11, 2010 - GFN Foods, LLC of Cranford, NJ is voluntarily recalling:

From FDA Website: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm204711.htm


Gluten-Free Naturals Pancake Mix – UPC 187058 000043
Lots 09159 (exp 12/8/2010), 09320 (exp 5/16/12) 09322 (exp 5/18/12)

Gluten-Free Naturals Light & Moist Yellow Cake Mix – UPC 187058 000067
Lots 09083 (exp 9/24/10) and 09322 (exp 5/18/12)

Gluten-Free Naturals Cookie Blend Flour – UPC 187058 000029
Lots 09086 (exp 6/24/10), 09219 (exp 11/7/10) and 10035 (exp 5/4/11)


These products, manufactured by GFN Foods, are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The FDA and Thumb Oilseed Producers Cooperative of Ubly, MI found traces of salmonella in Thumb Oilseed's facility. GFN Foods, LLC is voluntarily recalling the products that contain the ingredient supplied by Thumb Oilseed.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and in some cases fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which can be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result into getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.

Suffolk County Celiacs Article to be in "New Living" Magazine next week!

There will be an article on the Suffolk County Celiacs Support Group & Celiac Disease in the March issue of New Living magazine! The Magazine, which is free and can be found at the entrances of diners, gyms, supermarkets, etc will be out starting this Saturday, March 6th (and in all locations by March 10th). You can also see the article by visiting http://www.newliving.com/ on/after March 15th. You can find it by searching the words “Suffolk County Celiacs”. I believe there will also be some Gluten-Free advertisements as well! Make sure to check it out!
-Sue