News & Notes: March 24, 2017

Crunchmaster is introducing two new gluten-free products. A line of Protein Snack Crackers will be available in Sea Salt, Roasted Garlic and Barbeque flavors, while the Tuscan Peasant cracker range come in Simply Olive Oil and Sea Salt, Garlic & Italian Herb, and Rosemary flavors, Crunchmaster will add three flavors to its existing Multi-Seed and Multi-Grain lines: Multi-Seed Artisan Cheesy Garlic Bread, Multi-Seed Signature Buttermilk Ranch and Dill, and Multi-Grain Applewood Smoked Barbeque. This fall, look for Crunchmaster’s Pumpkin Harvest cracker.

Crunchmaster's sister brand Harvest Stone will add Sprouted Hummus and Sprouted Native Grains varieties to its line. The new products include Sprouted Hummus in Roasted Garlic, Sprouted Hummus in Taste of Za’atar, Sprouted Native Grains in Simply Olive Oil and Salt, and Sprouted Native Grains in Peruvian Aji Amarillo.

ADVERTISEMENT

Greater Philly Gluten Free Expo Set for May 20

The second annual Greater Philly Gluten Free Expo will take place at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania on Saturday, May 20.  This year's event will once again include local and national exhibitors, educational presentations, door prizes and gluten-free samples.

This year, the event will be located in the more spacious Hall C of the expo facility, allowing for wider aisles and better guest comfort. Featured speakers at the event include baking expert, author and celiac advocate Jules "GF Jules" Shepard and Beyond Celiac CEO Alice Bast.

Expo exhibitors will be sampling, selling and promoting products at the event. More than 70 exhibitors are expected, including The Happy Mixer, Chocolate Moonshine, GeeFree, Goodman Gluten Free and King Arthur Flour.  The presenting sponsor of the expo is Wegmans, and advance general admission tickets are now available at all area Wegmans locations (at the service desk), by phone (1-800-827-6397) or online. A limited number of special early-entry VIP passes are only available online. VIP passes provide:

• Exclusive early entry into the vendor area from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 am, before the general public
• VIP lounge from 8:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with exclusive gluten-free snacks, samples and an opportunity to meet local gluten-free experts and authors
• Guaranteed goodie bag
• Exclusive door prize drawings for VIP pass holders

Advance tickets for general admission (10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) are $10, with kids ages 12 and under free; at the door, tickets will be $15. VIP passes are $25 and include early entry to event, guaranteed goodie bag and exclusive samples. Parking at the Expo Center is free.

News & Notes: March 10, 2017

Annie Chun's announced a new gluten-free product line this week in advance of the annual Natural Products Expo West in California. The company's new Asian Entrees can be prepared in one minute. The new dishes are available in three varieties: Red Curry, Green Curry and Sesame Soy Noodle.

Also at Expo West, Dr. Praeger’s debuted a line of heat-and-eat bowls. The gluten-free varieties include a Mediterranean Falafel Bowl, Veggie Masala Bowl, Egg White & Kale Breakfast Bowl and Huevos Rancheros Breakfast Bowl.

Snikiddy is launching two puffed snack lines, Organic Cheese Puffs and Purple Corn Puffs. The Organic Cheese Puffs are available in two flavors - Grilled Cheese and Mac & Cheese - while the Purple Corn Puffs flavors are Sea Salt and White Cheddar.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

CHOP's 12th Annual Celiac Education Day Set for March 26

The Celiac Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is hosting its annual one-day, state-of-the-art multidisciplinary education program later this month. The 12th annual free event will take place on Sunday, March 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Colket Translational Research Building on CHOP’s campus in the University City section of Philadelphia (3501 Civic Center Blvd.).

The annual education day centers around the mission of CHOP's Celiac Team to promote community awareness by providing area families with evidence-based lectures provided by respected experts within the field. Both the clinical implications of celiac disease and the importance of adhering to a gluten free diet as well as future therapeutic treatments are discussed. Children in attendance are provided the opportunity to attend interactive age-specific lectures and to learn through play with CHOP child-life specialists.

Registration/breakfast begins at 8:15 a.m., and the program begins at 9 a.m. There will be complimentary gluten-free meals for lunch as well, and attendees can sample gluten-free products from several vendors who participate in the event.

Complimentary parking is available in the Wood Building garage; bring your parking ticket to the registration desk for validation.

Space is limited so register early. To maximize the number of families in attendance, CHOP is requesting that families limit registration to the child/ren with celiac disease and one caregiver. The hospital is also requiring anyone who has registered but cannot attend to call 215-590-3076 within one week of the event so that another family on the waiting list may have the spot.

Registration is available through Friday, March 24 via this link. I'll be at the Beyond Celiac table and hope to see you there.