Arico’s all-natural gluten- and dairy-free snacks were selected by ShapeYou.com, a health and fitness web site, to receive its ShapeYou 2008 GearAwards.

Arico’s Sea Salt Mist Cassava Chips and its Peanut Butter and Double Chocolate Cookie Bars were among the recipients of ShapeYou’s “Top Gear of the Year” award.

Is your local school system required to provide your child with a gluten-free meal?

If your child is unable to eat the meals provided by the school because of a verifiable illness or disability, then the answer is "yes," nutrition consultant and author Tricia Thompson wrote in a recent column on Diet.com.

According to a survey by the American Celiac Disease Alliance (ACDA), a non-profit organization that advocates for the celiac disease community, many parents report that their children’s schools have refused to provide gluten-free meals upon request.

For those looking to broaden their gluten-free snack repertoire, the online store Shop Organic now offers a Gluten-Free Goodies Gift Bag. Filled with an assortment of gluten-free goodies, including chips, pretzels, crackers and Arico’s classic chocolate chunk cookies, the sampler comes in a reusable Chico Bag.

At Camp Celiac, there’s no need to ask the question: Is it gluten-free?

Held annually at Camp Arroyo in Livermore, CA, Camp Celiac offers kids aged 8 to 17 years old the chance to participate in swimming, boating, sporting activities, and arts and crafts - all in a safe, comfortable gluten-free environment.

All meals and snacks served during the weeklong camp are gluten-free. Arico Natural Foods was among the vendors who donated their delicious gluten-free cookies and cassava chips to this year’s camp, held August 3 – 8.

Gluten-free and college-bound? 

Colleges and universities are increasingly responding to the needs of students with special dietary restrictions. About.com blogger Ann Lapid has published the results of a recent survey given to foodservice personnel at a number of prominent colleges and universities. The survey inquires about special accomodations and resources available to students with celiac disease, rules regarding cooking appliances in freshman dormitories and advice for college-bound students who have celiac disease.

Among the advice given by many of the foodservice managers:

Building upon its longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability, Arico Natural Foods has expanded its support of renewable energy initiatives and increased its global reforestation efforts.

Who says celiac disease has to slow you down?

Not Amy Yoder Begley. A competitive long-distance runner, Yoder Begley has overcome tremendous obstacles in order to realize her dream: To compete amongst the elite in the Olympic Games.

Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston are investigating whether gluten and dairy products play a role in autistic behavior.

The pilot study is one of seven current studies on autism at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, according to a recent news release from the university.

The Washington Nationals will host Celiac Awareness Night when the team takes on the Colorado Rockies Saturday, August 16 at 7:10pm.

Discounted tickets will be available for purchase here until Thursday, August 14, according to Vanessa Maltin, director of programming and communications at the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit the foundation.

This Saturday is the gluten-free Chill & Grill BBQ Party at Mickey John's pub on Skillman Avenue in Queens, New York.

The gluten-free menu will include hamburgers, hot dogs, bbq chicken, meatballs - and all kinds of GF items that were kindly donated to the event by numerous vendors. Drinks, including Redbridge gluten-free beer, will be sold separately.

Take home goody bags will include Arico cassava chips and cookie bars!