Ian’s to Host Allergy Friendly/Gluten-Free Foods Forum At Expo East

Ian’s, makers of all-natural allergy-friendly foods, is hosting an Allergy-Friendly/Gluten Free Foods Forum at the Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore. The goal of the forum is to educate and raise awareness about food allergies and related illnesses among food industry decision makers, the media and population at large, company officials say. On September 27, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., four speakers will present information from their respective areas of expertise (medical, testing, nutrition, advocacy).  Afterwards, they will all participate on a panel to answers questions from the audience.  The forum will be held in room 329 of the Baltimore Convention Center. Areas of discussion include the epidemiology of food related illness/diagnosis and care, food label regulations and impact of the new FDA ruling, advancements in the science of testing, as well as the challenges and opportunities industry manufacturers and retailers face when it comes to marketing to this extremely discerning consumer. “This is a vitally important topic,” says Joel Warady, chief sales & marketing officer of Enjoy Life Foods, a Gold Level sponsor for the event.  “For the past 11 years, we have been committed to raising food allergy awareness and furthering education in our industry.” “Ian’s is pleased to host such an important conversation at Expo East,” says Chuck Marble, CEO of Elevation Brands, makers of Ian’s products. “Food allergies and intolerances effect all age groups in our society, and with our panel of experts, we hope to have a highly educational and informative forum for the industry.” Noted speakers include: Tom Grace CEO of Bia Diagnostics, a full service food diagnostics facility and a leader in food allergen safety.  The company developed a method for determining the grain species source of gluten contamination, allowing manufacturers to declare products wheat-free when other grains are present. The process can also be used to identify the source of contamination in highly processed foods. In 2010, Bia Diagnostics co-authored a paper on gluten contamination in so called “gluten-free” grains and received coverage by Reuters and MSNBC regarding the hazards of food cross-contamination. Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc is a pediatric allergist for Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates where he is the medical director of the Shared Medical Appointment Program. Dr. Pistiner is a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics where he is a member of the Council of School Health and Section of Allergy & Immunology, and a member of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology where he is a member of the Adverse Reaction to Food Committee.  Dr. Pistiner chairs the Medical Advisory Team for the Kids with Food Allergies Foundation and serves on the board of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter. Additionally, he is the author of Everyday Cool With Food Allergies, a children’s book designed to teach basic food allergy management skills to young children. Tricia Thompson, MS, RD is an internationally recognized expert on celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. A nutrition consultant, researcher, and writer, she has authored numerous articles, including those that have appeared in Gluten –Free Living magazine, The Journal of the American Dietetic Association, The Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and The New England Journal of Medicine. She also writes the Living Gluten-Free blog for diet.com. Thompson has a MS degree in nutrition from Tufts University. Sloane Miller, MSW runs Allergic Girl Resources, Inc. and consults with the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industries on food allergy issues.  Miller also consults with governmental agencies, including recent work for the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.  A trained mental health worker, Miller offers food allergy coaching for individuals and families.  Her work has appeared in ABCNews, Allergic Living, CNN, Huffington Post, New York Magazine, NY1, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.