A note from the General Manager

E VERY

much value the support you give to us by being a member of Coeliac New Zealand and by continuing to renew your subscriptions annually you enable us to continue to work on the behalf of people with coeliac disease.

When you are there for us, we can be there for you! We are running a special offer this Coeliac Awareness Week, if you introduce a friend to become a member, they get the joining fee waived (usually $35 joining fee + $57 subscription) and you go in the draw for a hamper.

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Coeliac New Zealand would also like to extend a warm welcome to Gary Peacham and Ben Grant who joined as a members of the Coeliac New Zealand Board in April.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER?

____ E. admin@coeliac.org.nz T. 09 414 7467

thank you funders!

THANKS to Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS), The NZ National Lotteries Community Fund, The Lion Foundation, Pub Charity, Aotearoa Gaming Trust (formerly Southern Trust) without who’s support we would not be able to deliver educational tools to increase awareness of the disease, or provide funds to improve the everyday existence for people committed to being ‘gluten free for life’.

CROSSED GRAIN LOGO UPDATE

CNZ began the process to update our Crossed Grain Logo (CGL) Registered Trademark in mid-2020 and the process was completed in late 2021 which means that all products that carry the Crossed Grain Logo must also make a GLUTEN FREE claim and can no longer be labelled as meeting the CODEX Alimentarius standard of <20ppm or 20 mg/kg of gluten).

S A result, Ceres Organics reviewed all products carrying the CGL and based on this review have discontinued its’ use on a small number of products and are in the process of transitioning their packaging to remove any reference to both the CGL and relating claims. Ceres Organics would like to assure its customers that despite any planned changes relating to the use of this certification by Ceres Organics, all products displaying the Crossed Grain logo, including those accompanied by our less than 20 ppm disclaimer, are safe for consumption by the coeliac community and gluten intolerant and pose no apparent health risk. Ceres Organics continue to monitor supplier data/history and routinely check gluten content in these products to be compliant. To date all tests have validated there is in fact no detectable gluten, thereby meeting the requirements for a gluten-free claim accordingly to the FSANZ Code. If you have any concerns, you can contact us on info@ceres.co.nz.

Some Ceres Organics products are currently still available in some outlets in the old Ceres Organic packaging that displays a CGL and refers to CODEX Alimentarius standard of <20ppm.

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The global COVID pandemic has significantly impacted both sales and supply chain, including the supply of bulk materials and packaging, thereby delaying Ceres Organics projected transition to new packaging on a small number of products. This means consumers may find products on shelf with outdated packaging for longer than anticipated. While they are working through options to speed up this process, Ceres Organics are seeking to balance the significant waste and cost due to product and packaging write offs if they transition sooner. Contact Ceres customers services if you have questions.

ADVOCATING for MEMBERS

Recently we had several queries about a government funded paracetamol medicine, Pacimol that had 'nonsensitising gluten' included on the label.

We managed to get clarification around the ingredients by contacting the sponsor who provided the declarations concerning the status of the pregelled starch derived from corn. We also suggested they consider renaming non-sensitising gluten to gluten free starch on their packaging so there was less confusion.

If you ever have any doubts about the safety of your medicines, your first port of call is your GP or pharmacist. If they are unable to satisfy your concerns, contact Medsafe: medsafe.govt.nz and look up the medicine on their website which gives you the data sheets and consumer medicine information.

If you still are unsure about whether the list of excipients are gluten free you can contact the sponsor who will be listed on the data sheet and get them to provide you reassurance directly.

SOUTHERN CROSS HOSPITAL GOES COELIAC SAFE

Southern Cross North Harbour Hospital, on Auckland’s North Shore, has become the SECOND HOSPITAL in the country to go COELIAC SAFE, thanks to Coeliac New Zealand’s DINING OUT PROGRAMME of training and accreditation.

OMPASS Group NZ runs the kitchen and café, which is located on-site at the independent private hospital, and is now offering certified coeliac safe gluten free meals for patients. “We have always catered for allergens but wanted to ensure our coeliac patients can enjoy a meal without worrying if it is safe or not,” says Yvette Holloway, Compass Group’s Unit Operations Manager for Healthcare.

“As a manager it is important to me that all patients have a pleasant dining experience, which includes ensuring gluten free food is produced and served safely to coeliac patients and customers. We can only achieve this if all staff are well trained and informed,” Holloway says.

The Dining out Programme (DOP) approved menu features delicious gluten free versions of classic meals such as beef lasagne and cottage pie, as well as a delicious selection of wraps, sandwiches and a specially crafted ploughman’s platter. Thirty-five staff from Southern Cross North Harbour Hospital and Compass Group NZ received training from Coeliac New Zealand (CNZ), including healthcare assistants, chefs, café assistants, kitchen assistants and dishwashers. The training included online DoP training modules with video clips and information, followed by a test to ensure the staff gained the knowledge required

THE FEEDBACK ON to manage coeliac disease in the

THE GLUTEN FREE hospital.

MEALS HAS BEEN “We had very good FANTASTIC SO FAR... feedback on ONE PATIENT the training

EVEN SAID IT WAS programme from our

THE BEST MEAL staff, who

THEY’VE EVER HAD enjoyed it and found it

IN HOSPITAL. very informative,” Holloway says. To become DOP accredited, new equipment was brought into the hospital specifically to prepare meals for coeliac patients, including a toaster, panini press, pots, pans, cutlery and utensils. A separate area was also created in the kitchen for the sole purpose of coeliac preparation and specific spaces were allocated in the fridge for storage. To ensure gluten free surfaces are as safe as possible, the preparation surfaces are also swabbed with GlutenToxpro before any meals are prepared, to remove any risk of cross-contamination.

The feedback on the gluten free meals has been fantastic so far, as found by a recent survey at Southern Cross North Harbour Hospital, with one patient saying “it was the best meal I’ve ever had in a hospital”.

CNZ is thrilled to welcome Southern Cross Healthcare as the newest partner of the DOP, and is looking forward to continuing to offer support to provide coeliac safe meals for patients, staff and visitors at its North Harbour hospital.

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healthcare.southerncross.co.nz