Gut Feeling Week

As I’m sure you know, this week is Coeliac Awareness Week 2013 and runs until this Sunday, May 19th. Coeliac UK have named it Gut Feeling Week and are focusing on the proper diagnosis of coeliac disease by encouraging more people to check their symptoms.

Their website has lots of useful information about the work they will be doing this week.

Check out some of the links below.

• Awareness Week 2013 – Gut Feeling Week
• Gut Feeling – how you can get involved
• Download your Gut Feeling toolkit
• Awareness Week special offers

Newburn Bakehouse research

The guys at Warburtons Newburn Bakehouse are also helping to support the campaign. They have conducted research within their Facebook community regarding the diagnosis of coeliac disease.

Some of the main points from the research are:

• 52% of people diagnosed with coeliac disease were originally misdiagnosed
• 63% of those people were misdiagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• 32% of people take over five years to be diagnosed
• 45% of people were diagnosed between the age of 26yrs – 45yrs, and stomach cramps and tiredness were their most common symptoms before diagnosis

Nutritionist Christine Bailey

So from this research it’s pretty clear that early and correct diagnosis is an issue that needs fixing. Let’s hope this week goes some way towards that.

Also to help support Coeliac Awareness Week, Warburtons have renowned nutritionist Christine Bailey taking part in a live Facebook Q&A on their Facebook Page this Friday at 2pm. So think of any questions you may have for her and I’ll join you there!

Have a great week!

Phil Vickery

UK chef Phil Vickery has been appointed Food Ambassador for Coeliac UK.

Phil Vickery has been involved with Coeliac UK for a few years now helping to promote awareness of coeliac disease and trying to get catering establishments to offer gluten free options on their menus. Last year Phil wrote a book in association with Coeliac UK called Seriously Good! Gluten-Free Cooking (read our review). The book has sold over 70,000 copies!

Phil said: “I am very honoured to accept the role as Coeliac UK’s Food Ambassador and to continue to support the work of the Charity. I’m passionate about improving knowledge in the food industry and the necessity for more gluten free cooking as more and more people are diagnosed. Since embarking on the cookbook I have learnt so much and it is essential that chefs understand the importance of having gluten free recipes. I am therefore delighted to be judging this year’s competition and urge chefs of all experience to enter.”

Phil’s role also includes judging the Gluten-Free Chef of the Year competition. Last year’s competition was judged by Raymond Blanc. The competition, in association with the Institute of Hospitality and the Craft Guild of Chefs, is open to professional chefs over the age of 23. There is a separate award, Up and Coming Gluten-free Chef of the Year, for catering college students and trainee chefs under 23. All entrants have to design recipes for a three course gluten free menu.  If shortlisted they are then required to recreate the menu for four people in a 90 minute live cook off.

Entries must be received by Friday 15 October 2010 with the cook off starting week commencing 8 November 2010.

We will let you know the winner later in the year.