The Wisconsin Gluten Free Expo is scheduled for Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 10:00am – 3:00pm in West Bend, Wisconsin at Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center (3000 Pleasant Valley Road). Last year’s Gluten Free expo was the largest in Wisconsin and brought 750 guests from Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa. This year the expo will have up to 70 vendors from across the U.S. and Canada participating. The cost for each guest to benefit from this event is only $5.00 at the door.
This expo will give the food allergy community an opportunity to sample and/or purchase many gluten free, wheat free, soy free, nut free, casein free, and dairy free products. Those attending the expo will have celiac disease, autism, Down syndrome, and various food allergies. Also attending will be healthcare professionals and the general public.
After her husband, Roy Karow, was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2007, his wife, Julianne Karow looked for guidance – but found little. Living in a small community meant even fewer resources on which to draw. Julianne’s unfaltering passion to aid others facing the same difficulties, lead her to start a support group for Northern Wisconsin. Her goal for this expo is to help those with celiac disease, a gluten intolerance or various food allergies to they can travel the challenging journey of eating safely a little easier.
Celiac Disease Information:
You’ve probably heard of Crohn’s Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. Have you ever heard of celiac disease? Celiac disease affects more people than all of the above mentioned disorders combined. Celiac disease is a genetic disorder affecting 1 in 133 Americans. It is the most common autoimmune disease in the United States.
People with celiac disease cannot tolerate certain proteins found in common cereal grains, including wheat, barley and rye, commonly referred to as gluten. It is like playing Russian roulette with the food that they eat. When a person with Celiac Disease eats foods containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. The long-term effect of untreated celiac disease can be life-threatening. Patients have a 30% increased risk of developing certain types of cancer, especially intestinal lymphoma, Osteoporosis, Pancreatic Disease, Graves’ disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus, and thyroid disease. Adhering to the gluten-free diet is necessary to avoid these complications.
There is not yet a pharmaceutical cure for celiac disease.
Contact Information:
Julianne Karow
Event Organizer
P.O. Box 716
Minocqua, WI 54548
715-892-4987
http://www.WIglutenFreeExpo.webs.com
northwoodsceliac@aol.com
Contact Julianne for interviews or additional information.
