AOECS Chair Floris van Overveld reports from CCFL49 in Ottawa, where new guidelines for Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PAL) were adopted. After years of advocacy, cereals containing gluten are now included in the framework, while gluten-free claims and PAL remain clearly separated. It marks an important step towards clearer labelling and safer food choices for coeliac patients worldwide.
Could coeliac disease affect more than we realise? One of the most thought-provoking submissions to the AOECS Scientific Book 2025 explored how coeliac disease impacts not only physical health, but also confidence, stability, freedom and overall wellbeing. The findings suggest that the real-life burden of living gluten-free may often be underestimated.
Some of the proteins most strongly linked to coeliac disease were removed from the wheat — and the bread actually became better. That was one of the remarkable findings presented in the AOECS Scientific Book 2025, where researchers explored how wheat could potentially become less harmful for people with coeliac disease while still producing high-quality bread. Share your own research with us.
AOECS convened the first-ever discussion at the European Parliament on gluten-free safety in the catering sector. Policymakers, industry representatives and patient organisations came together to address food accessibility, awareness and safer dining for people with coeliac disease across Europe. A clear message emerged: gluten-free food is not a lifestyle choice, it is a medical necessity.
The European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions (PETI) has voted to keep Petition No. 1468/2024 on coeliac disease open, calling for continued EU action and greater harmonisation across Member States. AOECS Secretary General Veronica Rubio addressed the Committee on behalf of coeliac patients across Europe, highlighting inequalities in diagnosis, healthcare support and access to gluten-free food.
Your research and projects could help shape the future of coeliac care. AOECS invites submissions for its 5th Call for Scientific Papers, with selected work presented at the 2026 Annual Conference and published in the Scientific Book. Deadline: 30 June 2026.
🟢 AOECS has opened the Huda Emergency Initiative for Gaza. People with coeliac disease depend on a strict gluten-free diet to survive. In humanitarian crises, access to safe food can disappear overnight. Through the fund, AOECS is supporting emergency deliveries of gluten-free food to people with coeliac disease affected by the crisis. Learn more on our website. #together4coeliacs #celiac2celiac
🥐 At a gluten-free breakfast in Brussels, AOECS and our partners brought together MEPs, policymakers and industry representatives to call for stronger EU action on coeliac disease. AOECS presented its Manifesto, urging better integration of coeliac patients’ needs into Europe’s food and health strategies. The event was co-organised with @Specialised Nutrition Europe (SNE) and @FoodDrinkEurope.
AOECS calls for greater transparency in EU food contact materials legislation. Evidence from studies within our network shows measurable gluten migration from certain cereal-based bio-materials. Allergen considerations must be included in the ongoing regulatory revision.
In response to a petition submitted by the Catalan Coeliac Society, the European Commission emphasises that while EU rules on gluten and allergen information are in place, their practical impact depends on effective implementation and enforcement at national level. This serves as a clear reminder that we must continue to put pressure on national legislators to ensure these rules are applied.
🇮🇹 Travelling to Italy for the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games? If you live with coeliac disease, you can download the AIC Welcome App – a visitor version of the Italian Coeliac Association’s app – to help you find restaurants, cafés and shops offering safe gluten-free food across Italy. A practical tool for safer dining while travelling. #CoeliacDisease #GlutenFreeTravel #MilanoCortina2026 #AOECS
AOECS will be represented at the 35th PreventCD Progress Meeting, taking place on 22 January 2026 at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in the Netherlands. This participation reflects our commitment to staying closely connected to scientific research.
