Coeliac awareness week

What’s Behind the Label Coeliac

Awareness Week

7th – 13th June  Dyani Van Basten Batenburg

Many Kiwis will know someone who suffers from Coeliac disease. Whether it’s a parent, sibling, friend, neighbour or distant relative – our Coeliac circles are close. What isn’t always closely tied is our understanding of this serious inflammatory disease and the diversity of its impact on lives. This year the theme of Coeliac New Zealand’s awareness week is ‘What’s Behind the Label’ and it aims to give greater insight into the many ways one condition can affect people of all ages and all walks of life.

Breaking down the barriers

Here in New Zealand, an estimated 60 to 70,000 of the population have Coeliac disease. However, the rate may be higher because many of these people will be undiagnosed, or their condition incorrectly diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms differ greatly across age ranges, ranging from persistent abdominal pain to joint pain, to neurological issues, amongst others. Because this life-long condition doesn’t pick and choose, it’s more important than ever before to break down, and destigmatise, what’s behind labels like ‘the gluten-free diet’ and ‘Coeliac disease’, and offer greater support and encouragement to those whose every day routines, relationships and social situations suffer at its hands.

Coeliac NZ is urging Kiwis to get involved in strengthening conversations by jumping onto their Coeliac NZ Facebook page and participating in local activities and events countrywide.

Get inspecting

Taking a closer look at food labelling is also on the cards this awareness week. For people with Coeliac disease – and those choosing a gluten-free lifestyle – the Crossed Grain logo that features on glutenfree products represents certainty and safety. And, with an everincreasing demand for gluten-free foods, and with new products regularly hitting the marketspace, verified certification isn’t just a nice to have for Coeliac sufferers – it’s a must-have. The logo is also easy recognised – a simple sheath of wheat with a line through it – making it a quick reference point, and guaranteeing genuine gluten-free status.

Who wears the Crossed Grain logo?

To meet New Zealand’s strict labelling laws, products that display the Crossed Grain logo must demonstrate they: • Meet FSANZ gluten-free food standard regulations of ‘No

Detectable Gluten’. • Are subject to independent laboratory testing every 12 months. • Are formally verified and endorsed by Coeliac New Zealand.

Support and get tested

Getting a test for Coeliac disease may not be something you have considered – but it’s not hard to do. There are definite pros to undergoing one, here’s why . . . • Coeliac disease can act sinisterly.

Subtle signs include: gradual weight loss, digestive discomfort, irregular bowel habits and generalised fatigue. • A diagnosis might not be made until symptoms clinically manifest as anaemia, multiple nutritional deficiencies, low weight-to-height ratio and raised liver enzymes. • Going undiagnosed may increase a person’s risk of inflammatory and hormonal manifestations including: bone loss, arthritis, skin conditions, gum disease, tooth decay and anxiety and depression.

Want to know more? Jump online and go to:

coeliac.org.nz/online-assessment

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