Coming Soon To Our Store
Udi’s Lemon Streussel, Bluberry Muffins, Whole Grain Bread, White Sandwich Bread and Pizza Crusts — Arriving Wednesday (9/2) and not likely to last.
Stashu’s Gluten Free Cheese, Pepperoni and Pan Pizzas and Pizza Shells.
Andrea’s GF Fine Foods — Various gluten free foods and products, including their Sliced Sandwich Bread.
Sales
60% OFF Cases of Soy Dream Soy Milk 8/64 oz, with Nov 19 expiration date (ends when supply runs out)
20% OFF Blue Air HEPA Air Purifiers (ends 9/11) — These are the world’s most efficient and effective air purifiers. Why wake up stuffed up and stay that way the rest of the day? Get a good night’s sleep this allergy season.
10% OFF All Supplements (ends 9/11), with Rewards Program Membership
New Hours
Free From Market will be closed Monday, September 7 in honor of Labor Day. Starting mid-September we will be open later Tuesdays and Thursdays — stay tuned for an update.
Follow Us on Twitter! for Updates and New Products.
New Rewards Program
The Free From Market Rewards Program is officially underway, and it is easy. For every $150 of purchases, earn $10 back in free merchandise, and … For the month of September rewards customers receive an additional 10% off on all supplements (some restrictions apply). Ask how the next time you are in!
And the Best Bread Is …
Many thanks go to our generous bakers and the many refined tasters who participated in the Great Midwestern Gluten Free Bread Roundup. Tasters ranked Gluten Free breads from dedicated GF and allergen friendly facilities throughout the country. Breads were identified only with icons (dog, cat, bird, etc.) and ingredients. Tasters ranked those breads they tasted on a scale of 1-5 (1 being the best). Afterwards they were given a key that identified the bakers. Out of over 300 ballots, here are the top three:
1. Udi’s Bakery (aka “Bumble Bee”) 1.736 / 5.000
2. Andrea’s GF Fine Foods (aka “Fish Bowl”) 2.238 / 5.000
3. Sinfully Gluten Free (aka “Panda”) 2.321 / 5.000
Tasters were very critical of these gluten free foods, so it was difficult to score in the 2.0 range and only one bread at all scored in the 1.0 range. The top complement received by “Bumble Bee” and “Fish Bowl” was that they could be served un-toasted. If your bread did not score in our top three, remember, you have the key and can if you wish purchase directly from the bakers. ‘Bumble Bee” is already a regular addition to Free From Market and ‘Fish Bowl” will be arriving late next week as a regular addition. We still have several loaves of “Panda” in the freezer, and if there are enough requests, it too will be a regular addition. Thanks to everyone for participating. It was a lot of fun!
New Food Allergy Law For Illinois Schools
HB 281 was recently signed into law and it requires the IL Board Education and the Department of Health to develop guidelines by July, 2010 for each school board on how to manage students with life threatening food allergies. Among the required guidelines mandated by the law will be: 1) education and training of all school personnel who interact with students who have life-threatening allergies, 2) procedures for responding to life-threatening reactions, 3) a process for implementing food allergy action plans for students that require them and 4) protocols to prevent cross-contamination within schools.
The guidelines will turn into a universal Illinois school policy by January, 2011. If the next generation does not have to be trail blazers for a school’s allergy policy, this will be a huge step forward.
Gluten, Egg and Dairy Free Banana Bread
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil the bottom of a standard bread loaf pan and dust with rice or corn flour.
Combine in a large bowl:
3-4 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup puree)
1/3 cup light olive oil
1 cup organic light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Whisk together in a separate bowl::
1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour (I used a combo of buckwheat/rice/tapioca/potato starch)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons arrowroot starch
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 rounded teaspoon cinnamon
Add the dry ingredients into the banana mixture and stir until smooth. If the batter looks too thin and wet, add more gluten-free flour, a tablespoon at a time, to thicken the batter.
Add in:: 1/2 cup vegan soy-free chocolate chips (we used Enjoy Life)
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the center of a preheated oven for an hour, until the loaf is firm, a bit crusty, and a wooden pick inserted into the center emerges clean.
Cool the loaf on a wire rack.
Children’s Memorial Food Allergy Study
The Children’s Memorial Food Allergy Study in Chicago is still looking for families to participate in this long term family-based study of biological parents and at least one food allergic child (age 0-21 years). The goal is to answer fundamental questions that have never been systematically studied on a large scale: What is the cause of food allergy? How can food allergy be predicted and prevented? Are there alternative or better treatments for food allergy? This is the largest genetic study of food allergy ever and the answers to these basic questions will point toward their goal, which is nothing less that a cure for food allergy.
Each family member that participates receives a $25 gift card to Target, free parking, additional gift card(s) to cover travel expenses and free blood RAST screening for allergies. The test alone can cost several hundreds of dollars, and later you can tell your everyone that you were part of the solution. Since inception the study has enrolled 1000 families. An additional 500 families are needed in order to secure additional NIH funding for this single largest genetic study of food allergy. For more information, see their website, call 1-888-573-1833 or e-mail allergystudy@childrensmemorial.org. They need your help.
Community
September 26, 9:00 am. The Annual Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network Walk for Food Allergy will take place in 35 cities beginning in Autumn. The walk comes to Grant Park September 26 and the goal is to raise $2.7 million nationally for research toward a cure for food allergy and the need for gluten free foods. Now is the time to start putting together your team, make a pledge and get organized! Visit the walk website for details.
October 10, 8:30am to noon. The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center’s Annual Free Blood Screen & Ask the Experts Panel. There is no charge to be screened but preregistration is MANDATORY! Registration opens September 1. Call 773-702-7593 or vist www.CeliacDisease.net for more information.
October 10, 10:30-11:30. The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center’s Ask the Experts! Open to the public. Bring your questions for a Q&A session with world renowned experts in celiac disease. The even will take place at the Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine at 58th Street and Maryland Ave.
October 12, 2009, 6:00-8:00 pm. POCHA (Parents of Children Having Allergies) will have its bimonthly meeting at Silver Cross Hospital, 1200 Maple Road, Joliet, IL 60432. For more information see the POCHA Will County Website.
October 24, 7:00 pm. The Annual Food Allergy Initiative Chicago Benefit will be held at the River East Arts Center, 435 E. Illinois Street, Chicago. The Food Allergy Initiative is dedicated to nothing less than a cure for food allergy, and they are uniquely positioned to do it. Last year the first FAI benefit alone raised $1.2 million for food allergy research and community education. FAI Chicago’s 2nd Annual Benefit aims will be hosted by Charlie Trotter’s. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 312-553-2000 or visit the Food Allergy Initiative Website.
FDA Recalls
Aug. 21, 2009. Kroger is recalling Super Kids Enriched White Sandwich Bread due to undeclared milk.
Aug. 20, 2009. Cleopatra Candy is recalling its Cleopatra Candy Mixed Nuts due to undeclared sulfites.
Aug. 19, 2009. Vans International Foods is issuing an allergy alert and is recalling Van’s Wheat Free Homestyle Pancakes for undeclared wheat, milk, gluten and egg.
Aug. 18, 2009. Kraft Foods Global is recalling “Kraft, Jack’s Original Sausage & peparoni Pizza made with pork, chicken and beef” due to undeclared soy.
Aug. 14, 2009. Yummy Foods Co is conducting an urgent recall of its Yummy Foods Wife Cake due to undeclared egg and wheat.
Aug. 12, 2009. Liberte Yogourt is recalling its Liberte Mediterranee Wild Blackberry Yogourt due to undeclared walnuts.
Visit the FDA recall website for more information or to sign up for live updates.
Coupons
We accept all competitors’ coupons.
We sell in bulk sizes.
Sign up for coupons for your favorite allergy free and gluten free foods at Be Free For Me.
Click here for $0.55 off Any Enjoy Life Product.
Until next month!
