[Fwd: CCSG FYI - New resource for those with gluten intolerance]

[Guest guest]

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*From:* Antico [mailto:antico@...]

*Sent:* Thursday, April 22, 2010 2:56 PM

*To:* patminn@...

*Subject:* New resource for those with gluten intolerance

As a father of 5 children, 2 of whom with food allergies, I am very

aware of the difficulties and anxieties that go along with having to

manage food allergies and intolerances on a daily basis. In my

experience, dining out has been one of the greatest challenges and

sources of frustration.

As a result of this, I decided two years ago to create an easy-to-use

online guide to allergy- and intolerance-friendly restaurants for the

benefit of our entire community. I am writing you today in an effort to

introduce you to this new website, AllergyEats (www.allergyeats.com

<http://www.allergyeats.com>), with the thought that you might find it a

valuable tool to share with your support group members.

AllergyEats is a peer-based guide with a database that includes over

600,000 US restaurants. Individuals with food allergies or intolerances

can rate any restaurant experience by answering 3 simple questions

(adding comments if they like). The process can take under a minute. The

answers to these questions are translated into a simple

“allergy-friendliness” rating.

Other users can then go to AllergyEats when seeking an allergy- or

intolerance-friendly restaurant. By simply typing in the geographic

location they’re interested in, users can see a restaurant’s

“allergy-friendliness” rating, as well as other useful information where

available, such as menus, allergen lists, gluten-free menus, nutrition

guides, industry certifications, and more.

AllergyEats is new, having been live for less than two months. However,

where awareness has blossomed, initial reaction has been fantastic and

word-of-mouth has driven many ratings quickly (the Boston metro area

achieved over 150 ratings in 7 weeks!). Each additional rating, anywhere

in the country, increases the value of AllergyEats as a tool for our

entire food allergy and intolerance community. That is why major food

allergy and Celiac organizations have endorsed or become friends of

AllergyEats so quickly (please see these tabs on the site).

Therefore, I hope you’ll be willing to take a few minutes to check out

AllergyEats (www.allergyeats.com <http://www.allergyeats.com>). If you

like what you see, please share the site with your members and any other

individuals of groups you feel might be interested. If you have

questions, comments, or concerns, please email me at

antico@... <mailto:antico@...>.

Thank you for your consideration,