Gluten-free Labeling: Register your comment with the FDA

I have posted this because it is important. Please read.

Gluten-free Labeling: Register your comment with the FDA: "
Last week, The Food and Drug Administration re-opened comments on its proposed gluten-free labeling rules. We have 60 days in which to submit comments to these proposed regulations. The comment period ends October 2, 2011.

Whenever a government agency prepares a set of guidelines, they open them up to the public to comment. It’s important to have a significant volume of comments to help shape guidelines and policies, but those comments must also be of decent quality. Every comment is read, logged, and recorded. This is an important (and often-overlooked) tool the public can use to help influence public policy.

Nancy at Gluten Freeville wrote a post which outlines the substantive points of the FDA’s proposed guidlines. You can read that here.

To submit your comments on the FDA’s proposed guidelines on gluten-free labeling, go to www.regulations.gov and:

1. Choose “Submit a Comment” from the task bar.

2. Enter the docket number FDA-2005-N-0404-0135 in the “Keyword” space (you don’t need to worry about the “Document Type” drop-down menu).

3. Select “Search.”

4. Scroll down to the results window and click on the “Submit a Comment” blue text to register your comment. Keep your comments professional and smart; they won’t be taken seriously if they’re overly emotional, ranting, derogatory, or filled with wild accusations, typos, and general cray-cray wackadoo-ness (which I know you won’t do, but I needed to put it out there).

Sample text you can cut and paste, then customize to your liking:

I have celiac disease/gluten intolerance, and I am requesting that the FDA institute clear, stringent guidelines on the labeling of gluten-free products. I know there is a recommendation of a level of <20 parts per million being gluten-free, but that is not gluten-free. People with celiac and gluten intolerance can get very, very sick from gluten-free foods that are produced on the same lines as regular food. If a food product carries the label “gluten-free,” but also has a disclaimer that it was processed in the same facility that also processes wheat or other gluten ingredients, then IT IS NOT GLUTEN-FREE, even if it did test at <20 ppm. If I consume that product, here is what will happen to me over the next 3-5 days:

1) I will suffer uncontrollable explosive diarrhea; 2) I will experience numbness and tingling in my extremities; 3) I will experience excruciating joint pain; 4) I will not be able to work or care for myself or my family; 5) I will suffer from migraine headaches; 6) I will experience a serotonin fluctuation that results in severe depression; and 7) the risk of my developing lymphoma increases five-fold.

Please establish gluten-free labeling rules that are clear, straightforward, and truthful about what the product actually is and how it is manufactured/processed. Again, cross-contamination is an enormous risk, and food that is produced in facilities that are not dedicated gluten-free facilities are not gluten-free foods. If a gluten-free food is processed on the same lines as wheat or other gluten-containing ingredients, companies should be required to disclose that on their packaging.

Lastly, please add gluten to the top allergens list.

Thank you for your consideration.

* * * * *

After you’ve registered your comment with the FDA, it would be great if you could take a minute to email a short thank-you to Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) for urging the FDA to re-open the comments on these regulations and actually set some rules around gluten-free labeling, as they were instructed to do by Congress way back in 2007. Doesn’t matter if you’re not from Vermont or Oregon — Senators Leahy and Wyden deserve our thanks for pushing the FDA to establish guidelines. Here’s some text you can cut and paste into a thank-you email, and customize to your specific needs:

Dear Senator Leahy/Wyden:

Thank you for urging the FDA to establish rules around gluten-free labeling. I have celiac disease/gluten intolerance, and this is a very important issue for me and my family. Too often, those of us who can’t eat gluten get very, very sick because of the lack of labeling laws that allow trace amounts of gluten into the foods we eat. So, thank you for making the FDA do the work they have promised to do for years.

Sincerely,

Your Name Here

Senator Leahy’s email contact form is here: http://leahy.senate.gov/contact/

Senator Wyden’s email contact form is here: http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/

* * * * *

Lastly, please Digg and StumbleUpon this post, forward it to your friends and family, “Like” it on Facebook, Tweet the link — do whatever you can to encourage your friends, family, colleagues, and others to help support strong labeling practices. There are handy little buttons at the bottom of this (and every post, actually) to help spread the word.

This is one where we need all hands on deck. Thanks for taking a few minutes to tell the FDA how you feel. It’s really important, and I hope you will encourage others to register their comments, as well.

* * * * *

A little background reading on the issue:

The Washington Post: FDA says “gluten-free” is not for fad dieters

ABC News: “Gluten-free” — FDA may be closer to definition (except, ugh, they call it “Celiac’s disease” in the intro)

Boston Globe: When foods labeled “gluten-free” aren’t

"

Oh, these kids!

We have had some great family time in the past week.

We were so happy to have our niece, Missy, and nephew-in-law, Zuel, and their daughter, Ede, as house guests last weekend.  They had a family wedding in St. Paul, so while her parents attended the reception, Ede stayed with us at the ranch. She is probably the happiest baby I've ever met. Seriously.

It's so apparent her parents are doing a wonderful job.

I'll admit I was a little jealous of Paul. I had to go to the closing night of "Joseph" on Saturday night, so he took Ede for an after dinner walk and put her to bed. They got along famously.

Please come back again soon, Missy and Zuel. We had a great time visiting with you. Thanks for letting us get to know your daughter!

Our nephew, Joey, is home this week on leave. It has become a tradition when he is in town to go out for burgers at the Nook or the Shamrock (same menu) in St. Paul. Don't even bother giving me a menu, I know exactly what I'll order every time. The Paul Molitor, please.

Nick and Joe grew up together. It fills my heart to see them together, even if it is for a short time.

Speaking of parents who are doing a wonderful job, Elizabeth and Mike were there, too. Here's Elizabeth with Haley, who turned two in July. She talks up a storm and has a delightful personality. She was quite amused by her Uncle Joey and Nick.

And, we all took turns holding Elizabeth's baby, Jake, who was born in May. Isn't he too cute?

So is Ellen!

Happy times. Life is good.

Tomorrow, Paul and I are heading north for the weekend. No Airstream this trip. We'll be sleeping in a tent!!!!! I'll talk to you soon.

Occupied

I've been at rehearsals every week night and several weekends the past month for the Eagan Community Theatre's production of

The show opens tonight and continues with evening (7:30 PM) performances July 15-16, 20-23, 27-30 plus 4 matinees (2 PM) July 17, 23, 24 and 30. The box office (651-683-6964) is open Monday-Friday-1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.


I have been the vocal director/rehearsal pianist for the production. I'm proud of these people. I am also very happy be done with rehearsals!!! It's time to think of other things.


Yesterday was Paul's last day of summer school. This morning, we made reservations for August at several campgrounds. Yes!

Inspired, Encouraged, Challenged and Proud

Paul, Suzanne and I were at Lake Nokomis for the Life Time Minneapolis Triathlon by 5:45 a.m. yesterday. Paul and Suzanne participated in the event.

I was their cheerleader.

Our friend and fellow dinner group member, Joe, competed in the event last year. When he told us his intentions to give it a go again this summer, Paul was inspired to start training for it himself. Here we are with Joe and Char before the event started yesterday.

When Paul shared with Suzanne his plans to enter the triathlon, she said, "I'll do it with you, Dad." So, they both registered for the Sprint Race. Her encouragement helped him immensely. He researched training schedules, met with a trainer a few times to get advice and pointers, and day by day faced the challenge to get into condition.

The Sprint Triathlon started with a .4 mile swim in Lake Nokomis, a 15 mile bike ride around the parkway and a 3 mile foot race around the lake.

Watching all of those people swimming around that lake yesterday morning was quite the sight.

Paul and Suzanne entered the Friends and Family section so they could experience as much of the event as possible together. Their segment wore yellow swim caps. Here's Suzanne in line waiting to enter the lake. She's the one with the turquoise waistband. Paul was already in the water at this point.

And here she leaves the lake.

I waved and cheered for Paul as he went past me, but the picture didn't turn out.

Nick and Ellen joined me along the parkway and we watched them go past us on their bikes.

As you can see, Paul went by us in a blur! The weather cooperated, with a light breeze and a good cloud cover.

Josh joined us at the finish line. So did our friends, Pam and Dave. We all cheered them as they went by.

I am so proud you, Paul and Suzanne.

What a great bonding experience for father and daughter.

We are truly blessed.

If Mom Ain't Happy...

When I call Paul after rehearsal each evening to tell him I am on my way home,  I always ask him, "Anything new?" He always says, "No, nothing." It's just that routine people fall into, I guess. Except last Thursday when I asked, he said, "There is a bit of a problem with the water. It's real rusty." When I got home I discovered his statement was no exaggeration.  Our water looked like Lipton Tea. Gritty tea.

Great. Just great. Paul, of course, had done considerable research as to why this sudden change and started running the water outside onto the lawn. If there was a solution, he said, that would be the answer.

My course of action?

We had a service guy out the next afternoon. He could talk the leg off a mule. 

Let's just say he got off subject quite often. Whenever we could steer him back to the subject,  he assured us our water was safe to drink but there obviously is rust down there in the aquifer and the orange tea colored water would be back. Paul was having success with his method of running water onto the lawn. I fixated on the fact it would return and said, "What filter system works best for our house?"

Mr. Talkative happened to have the perfect solution to the problem. We just had to listen to him tell about the conversations he and his wife had on their first AND second dates before we talked about the filter system.

We agreed to have a filtration system installed. Me, because I wanted the water problem to go away, and Paul, because he wanted this guy out of our house.

The water was clear by that evening. The install was set for Wednesday morning. Tuesday night, just as we were going to sleep, Paul softly whispered into my ear,

"You know, we can call and cancel that appointment tomorrow morning. We can just take our chances on the well."

My reaction?

Mark Dayton has had more success with the Republicans than Paul had in negotiations with me on the subject.

Being the intelligent man that he is, he knew when to say,

Yesterday the system was installed. I'll admit our basement furnace room looks a bit like a chemistry lab.

And, I just kissed my summer paycheck goodbye.

 But, I slept well last night.  So did Paul. Because it's not over. He always will get in the

He's already told me how many flat screen TV's we could have bought with that money as we walked through Sam's Club yesterday. I'm sure I'll be reminded often. For many years. With clean water.

Inside the New Cabin-On-Wheels

The camper is back in our yard after being back at the dealer for two weeks for some warranty work.

It's rather sad that she just sits out there, waiting for us to take her someplace. Unfortunately, our schedules dictate we stay home. Oh, well, the state parks are all closed due to our stupid state government. Politicians. 

Stop. No more on that subject. 

I have had requests for an inside picture tour. My personal photographer, Paul, obliged and took some interior shots of our aluminum asylum. 

We love all of the windows. Both by the booth

and in the bedroom.

A separate bedroom is one of the main reasons we traded up. That, and facing our 60th birthdays.

Oops, that's also another subject.

There are different design options with Airstreams. We wanted the aluminum interior.

We have so much storage space which will come in handy when we are snowbirds each winter.

Paul calls our kitchen sink the baptismal font.

My brother, Al, and our friend, Randy, who are both ordained ministers, could find this useful.

  

The internet is a wonderful thing. Oops, off subject again.

This next shot is my favorite. For some reason, Paul loves to shoot pictures which include his feet. If you can look beyond them, you might notice that nice little television mounted on the wall. We have sold out as campers.

He also likes to take a "this is our route out of here" picture.

We are so anxious to get out of town.

Speaking of feet, I have new hiking boots and I am just as excited as a kid with a new pair of school shoes!

I can hardly wait for our trip to the North Shore in September. I'll be ready for those rocky trails!!!!

Happy 4th of July!

George is with us now until Suzanne's move is completed. Staying out here at the ranch is like summer camp for this urban cat. The turkeys have been keeping him occupied.

Paul and I have gotten so used to them, we don't pay much attention. But, they will come right up to the window and "cluck" at George. He's used to the little songbirds in the tree branches outside Suzanne's living room window. These guys are much more interesting!

We also had Sophie, the warm hearted labradoodle, as our houseguest this weekend. Although she was quite interested in George, he really was not a very gracious host to the pooch.

We haven't had a chance to get the cabin on wheels out of the yard. We've been busy with the show and summer school. We are a bit anxious to hit the road again.

It's been nice to have the weekend off for the holiday. Due to my rehearsal schedule, we don't eat many meals together in the evening. We've made up for it the past few nights. Friday, we grilled stuffed mushrooms (no recipe, just stuff from the refrigerator). They were mighty fine. Also, we made Guy Fieri's Grilled Romaine with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette.  Excellent!!!

Saturday, we celebrated Tom's retirement with Jayne and him at Porter Creek in Burnsville. That was fun! Good food.

Yesterday, we brought out the smoker and cooked up some pork butt using nephew Kevin's recipe for dry rub and this site for direction and served pulled pork last night to Nick, Ellen, Suzanne, Josh and a group of their friends. We'll be doing this again!!! The pork had great "bark" and the meat was tender and moist.

How fun to have a houseful of "kids" again.

Now, it's back to just George and the turkeys. I'll talk to you soon.