Coeliac Association Malta is a voluntary self-help and non-governmental organisation for people with coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis. It was founded in 1989 by coeliacs themselves to promote the welfare of coeliacs in Malta.
Membership is open to those who have been medically diagnosed. The association offers help and advice, and provides useful information about the condition and the gluten-free diet to newly-diagnosed persons. It offers ongoing support and advice to members and their families and provides dietary guidelines to help improve the quality of life of coeliacs.
The association endeavours to generate greater awareness on coeliac disease and, from time to time, organises conferences, seminars and talks. Social activities for members and their families are also organised regularly.
The association’s main concerns today are:
•The myth that following a gluten-free diet is beneficial to everyone;
• The local generic lack of understanding between the needs of coeliacs who have to follow a strict gluten free diet for life and those who, for various reasons, opt to follow a gluten free diet as a ‘fad’. Whereas cross-contamination has no ill effects on the ‘fad’ eaters, a single gluten-containing crumb may cause a coeliac to be seriously ill;
• The generic non-implementation of legislation to safeguard all those who suffer as a result of allergens, including coeliacs.
A very important legislation that the association wishes to see implemented locally is the new Food Information for Consumers Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011. To raise awareness, the association organised a seminar on the subject last October.
Coeliac Association Malta maintains effective contact with the local health authorities, as well as with coeliac societies worldwide. It is also a member of the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS).
The association aims to keep close ties with current members while seeking to attract new members. With this in mind, a new Facebook page has been set up and a new website will be launched soon.
• For more information and to become a member, send an e-mail to info@coeliac-associationmalta.org or write to the Secretary, Coeliac Association Malta, P.O. Box 72, Manwel Dimech Street, Sliema, SLM 1055.
Food Information for Consumers Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011
This regulation came into force on December 13, 2014. Among others, it:
• simplifies European food labelling by combining various rules in a single regulation;
• changes the way packaged foods are labelled; and
• changes the way caterers have to provide information.
Packaged foods
The regulation sets a minimum font size for information written on the pack that makes it easier to read labels. The way that allergen information is provided also changed. Allergens (including the grains wheat, rye, barley and oats) now have to be emphasised in the ingredients list, preferably using bold lettering, and not in an advice box.
Eating out and non-pre-packed food
The regulation introduces substantial changes to how restaurants provide information about allergens in the meals they serve. The rules apply to:
• food served in restaurants;
• meals served in hospitals, schools, workplaces, universities; and
• foods sold loose, for example at deli counters, butchers and fishmongers.
Retailers must provide allergen information for the meals they serve and if a recipe contains allergens, including gluten-containing ingredients, they have to provide this information.