For consumers with celiac disease, it is important to be able to detect if food contains gluten. Precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) is a voluntary labelling practice used by food manufacturers to communicate the potential presence of allergens in food products that are not intentionally added as ingredients. AOECS advocates for further clarity and consistency for consumer-friendly labelling.
AOECS seeks clarification from the European Commission on a proposed change in Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. This is a key piece of legislation within the European Union that governs the use of food additives (e.g. that can replace gluten). AOECS accepts the suggested change, but the main concern is if the current rules remain unchanged despite a new categorization.
Three independent studies from Coeliac Societies revealed gluten can migrate from food contact materials into gluten-free food. European Commission now assures ongoing preparatory efforts toward revising European Food Contact Material regulations to enhance consumer information, including labeling requirements and stricter rules on substance migration into food.
As artificial intelligence is being more widely used in healthcare, AOECS needs to stay alert to future developments. This became evident when Veronica Rubio, Secretary General of the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS), and Tunde Koltai, Chair of the Board, attended the European Patient Forum Leadership Meeting centered on Artificial Intelligence on April 13th, 2024.
Are you interested in sharing your work on celiac disease at the largest medical conference for celiac disease this year? Submit your abstract before April 7th to the International Celiac Disease Symposium (ISCD). Open the story below to find the link to submit your research.
To balance the focus on medical research on coeliac disease AOECS puts the spotlight on the 8,700 hours per year when a person with coeliac disease is not a patient at the largest research conference on coeliac disease, the International Celiac Disease Symposium (ICDS) in Sheffield 5-7 September 2024.
Are you working with research on celiac disease or know somebody in that field? Hurry up - nominate candidates for the international Celiac Disease Foundation Research Prizes until February 23, 2024.
The National Association of Celiacs of Georgia (GNCA), the newest affiliate member of the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS), marked its first anniversary with a pioneering gluten-free expo in Tbilisi. The event garnered widespread attention and participation from key stakeholders, making it a resounding success.
There is a belief that gluten-free products are healthier than gluten-containing thereby leading people to eat a gluten-free diet despite not having to. However, research presented in the new AOECS Scientific Research eBook shows that gluten-free food gives no added nutritional value and in some cases even is less healthy than equivalent gluten-containing products.
Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that are found in the bloodstream and other bodily fluids. Research presented in AOECS Scientific Research eBook reveals that miRNA could be used as a biomarker of coeliac disease. This could replace discomforting intestinal biopsy as a diagnosis tool for detecting coeliac disease.
Coeliac disease affects millions of individuals worldwide, causing adverse reactions to gluten consumption. Often people are unaware of suffering from this condition but even if you are diagnosed it can diminish your quality of life research in the new AOECS Scientific Research eBook reveals. Read more about this in the AOECS Scientific eBook just released.
The Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS) successfully held its Celiac Annual Conference and 35th General Assembly in Athens, Greece on September 2-5. Two celiac societies from Georgia and Israel have been accepted as AOECS affiliate members. The event was elegantly hosted by the Hellenic Coeliac Society and over 130 participants met over two days in Athens.
For the first time ever you can visit the AOECS General Assembly Conference in Athens November 3rd, 2023. For only 50€ you will be able to mingle, meet and make connections with influential representatives from the worldwide coeliac community. You can also enjoy an action packed half-day with presentations, research news and panel discussions on coeliac disease. See you there!
Opportunity! AOECS is now looking for a freelance part-time Licensing Operations Manager to take care of monitoring and developing our licensing scheme for the Crossed Grain Trademark. There are currently over 23,000 licenced gluten free products labelled with the Crossed Grain Trademark showing they are safe to eat for coeliacs. Application open until Sept. 15th, 2023.
Submit your research papers to AOECS now! We are now calling for scientific papers on recent research on coeliac disease as well as papers on interesting projects concerning the disease. The call is open, all you just need a recommendation letter from a National Coeliac Society to be able to send in your contribution.
War on Ukraine is still ongoing. So is also the humantarian work supported by AOECS Emergency Fund. Up until now over 38 000 kg of gluten free food has been shipped to Ukrainian coeliac families in need. Read more about our efforts and how you can support.
Study reveal an increase in digestive diseases in Europe. United European Gastroenterology (UEG) sends open letter to EU commission to address this issue and suggests structural changes. AOECS endorses this letter and initiative.
Join the Coeliac Day Virtual Run to show your support for coeliacs.
Make sure to get a seat on AOECS coeliac awareness day webinars that run all through May, 2023. The webinars are free, but there are a limited number of seats. Register today!
Can biodegradeable food packages contaminate gluten free food? Three studies conducted by three different national coeliac societies indicate this. For the time being, coeliacs should avoid packages derived from gluten-containing cereals. AOECS invites to a webinar on this topic on February 7th, 2023. Follow link to save a seat.
