I am appalled! On top of the fact that it is insulting to those of us who truly get sick from gluten, there are plenty of better ways to lose weight out there. Exercise, healthy eating and not over-indulging to begin with.
I don't know; fad diet or not more demand for gluten-free food should lead to better availability, more awareness, and more than a few manufacturers questioning whether they really need to put wheat flour in everything just for the sake of doing it. Here in Austin we've got a thriving gluten-free bakery that's likely being kept in business by all manner of loonies, but the net result is that I can go get some cookies or a birthday cake without having to bake them myself.
Of course there's the danger of backlash if/when the fad goes away, but at least more people will know what it means.
Good point Mike, I had written a longer post but it was rather scathing so I kept it short. In my original post I said if she had gone on to talk more about legit gluten intolerance and Celiac disease I might view the article differently. They say bad press is press none-the-less though, so maybe it's helpful, but I still disagree with her recklessness.
Thanks for posting this Jenny...I read this last week and have been steaming about it! I'm really upset about some of the misinformation that could have been cleared up with a simple conversation with someone that leads a gluten-free life, especially the french fries and liquor comment. We can't just pop into any restaurant and eat french fries (or any fried food) if its been in oil with non GF food. And there are plenty of liquors, like many vodkas, that are non GF too. I was really unimpressed...
Anonymous said…
I find it obnoxious as well as a celiac. However, I also find it really irritating as a writer and freelance journalist. It's a writer's responsibility to get all of the information on a topic and to get a solid knowledge base before writing on any topic. This is true whether you're writing fiction, textbooks, even poetry, and it is most certainly (and more obviously!) true for a reporter. I realize this is in the "style" section, but that doesn't mean you can write fluff with no regard for facts. It's just a badly written piece and it's clearly offensive to those of us who truly suffer from this life-changing disease. I'm inclined to write to the editor...
Anonymous said…
By the way I also commented on the article itself. I may also have left an offensive comment...just...um, maybe. I couldn't help myself, hypocritical as it may be.
As if any of us who don't do gluten asked for it. I don't do gluten because it gives me a headache,itchy rash, and I can't sit still and oh yeah my stomach and bowels feel like someone blew up balloons inside me...geesh...Thanks for posting that link...HUGS
Comments
I just got my copy of the magazine & was reading at my desk and just wrote a post!
I'm SO PISSED!!!!!!!!
then i saw you wrote about it here. Ugh. OMG. i'm extremely bothered.
Of course there's the danger of backlash if/when the fad goes away, but at least more people will know what it means.