Summary of the 02/24/2001 Bioengineered Foods and Celiac Awareness Meeting

Summary prepared by Mardena Waller

Here is the Summary on the Bioengineered Foods and Celiac Awareness meeting February 24, 2001 at Caltech, sponsored by CDF - Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena Connections Group. Pasadena (CA) Wild Oats provided free gluten-free foods, and is a stand-out, and nearly stand-alone, market promoting education on gmo-free foods. Let them know you appreciate what they are doing, and tell them you support them. Ask them for a copy of Genetically Engineered Foods - Are They Safe? (Scientists explain health and environmental risks.)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
Heres an example of what Marshall Crostowski cautioned: Question #1: Are biogeneticists working to reduce or eliminate gluten proteins adversely affecting celiac suffers?

Short Answer: Glutens are mainly found in wheat and the related cereals barley, rye and triticale and are important components not only in baked goods but also in a large number of processed food, medicines and cosmetics. Most of the current genetic modifications are to increase the quantity and quality of gluten and to introduce wheat gluten genes into other crops such as barley, maize, sorghum, tobacco, and perhaps rice. There may be some research in Europe toward eliminating or neutralizing wheat gluten or the bodys immunological reaction to it.

Gluten Biotech Watch recommends when you e-mail food companies asking about ingredients, tell them you dont want gmo foods, and ask them to go (and label) gmo/gluten-free! Groups and individuals can support companies that do, boycott companies that dont. Make some noise! To help, E-mail GBW at Open Original Shared Link (we DO have a sense of humor!). Robert Jeffers, Ph.D., and Marshall Crostowski will lead GBW to monitor gmo/gluten research.