Celiac Disease Advocacy Groups Denounce Remarks by Ted Cruz About Gluten-Free Meals in the Military

glutenfree2This is exactly what I expect advocacy groups to do. I agree completely with these statements and hope that the result of Cruz’s ill-advised statement will be that more people understand the medicine behind the disease. I so appreciate the many restaurants and food manufacturers who have developed products for Celiac and gluten sensitive people.
If anything, I hope this dust up will advance the cause of accommodations in the military.

BEYOND CELIAC DENOUNCES REMARKS MADE BY SENATOR TED CRUZ ABOUT GLUTEN-FREE DIETS
February 17, 2016
Beyond Celiac strongly denounces the remarks made by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in which he associated adherence to a gluten-free diet with “political correctness” and “social experiments.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA (February 17, 2016) – Beyond Celiac, formerly known as the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, strongly denounces the remarks made by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in which he associated adherence to a gluten-free diet with “political correctness” and “social experiments.”
Alice Bast, President & CEO of Beyond Celiac, released the following statement:
“Senator Cruz’s remarks equating the need for gluten-free food options with ‘political correctness or social experiments’ propagate misinformation about celiac disease that is both harmful and disparaging to the celiac disease community. Celiac disease is a serious, genetic autoimmune disease, and left untreated, it can lead to other autoimmune diseases (like thyroid disease), osteoporosis, and certain cancers. When people in positions of power disregard celiac disease, they simultaneously disregard the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have been diagnosed and the millions who are estimated to have the disease but have not been diagnosed.
Strict adherence to a gluten-free diet is the only treatment for celiac disease. Remarks, like those made by Senator Cruz, that downplay the existence and seriousness of celiac disease directly obstruct efforts to educate the public and hinder accurate diagnosis. It is our mission at Beyond Celiac to improve awareness and understanding of celiac disease. We know firsthand how difficult it can be to live with a disease that is not taken seriously by those who should know better.
Senator Cruz would benefit greatly by learning to empathize with people who live with celiac disease and other misunderstood or marginalized diseases. We encourage him to visit BeyondCeliac.org to learn more about celiac disease and to hear directly from the patient community about why his position is detrimental to the health and well-being of millions of people.”
About Beyond Celiac
Beyond Celiac, formerly known as the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, is a leading international advocacy organization committed to increasing diagnoses and understanding of celiac disease as a serious genetic autoimmune disease; accelerating innovation to support those with celiac disease to live life to the fullest; and forging pathways to a cure. We aim to inspire hope, build a strong community and serve as a trusted resource on celiac disease. For more information, please visit www.beyondceliac.org.
Media Contact:
Claire Baker
Beyond Celiac
267-419-2111
[email protected]
Will Hall
WE Communications
617-234-4115
[email protected]

The Celiac Disease Foundation just tonight released the following statement.

Ted Cruz Says NO Gluten-Free Meals

At a rally yesterday in South Carolina, Senator and presidential candidate, Ted Cruz, said in a speech about supporting the U.S. military, “That’s why the last thing any commander should need to worry about is the grades he is getting from some plush-bottomed Pentagon bureaucrat for political correctness or social experiments – or providing gluten-free MREs.”

As reported in TIME
Senator Cruz’s comments are emblematic of the widespread ignorance about celiac disease and gluten-sensitivity that Celiac Disease Foundation must fight everyday of every year. We need investments in research. We need increased rates of diagnosis. We need drugs to treat accidental exposure to gluten. We don’t need this nonsense.
Help us help the millions who suffer. Add your data to iCureCeliac today. It’s time for a cure.

For my other posts including video of Cruz’s comments on this matter, click here.