As I’ve said before, despite or because of being an SAT tutor, I’m not really into standardized tests. Still, some (like the Patient Autonomy Test!) are genuinely useful assessments.
In 2012, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) tested the gluten-free knowledge of foodservice professionals attending a National Restaurant Association Show. According to this report, the results were abysmal. Under 50 percent of the restaurant pros could name a single gluten-containing grain other than wheat. That’s one test I wish chefs (and waiters, too) would invest a little time and energy prepping for.
Since you’re reading this blog, I’m willing to bet you can name more than one gluten-containing grain. But how much do you really know about gluten and its related disorders? If you’re brave enough, you can find out! The NFCA has come through with another quiz, this time with a different audience in mind: us, and our family and friends.
Rudi’s, everyone’s favorite grilled cheese maker (don’t tell Udi’s) is sponsoring the 10-question quiz and providing 10 gluten-free prize packs to quiz-takers. You get an entry even if you get a couple questions wrong—and you’re sure to learn a thing or two.
Take the quiz here, then challenge a friend to take it, too!
Why take the quiz (besides the prize packs)? To answer that, I look to another campaign by the NFCA, which urges us to “Restore your health. Reclaim your life. Take the pledge.” You can commit to take the pledge here, and it’s really simple: educate, empower, advocate.
At its most basic level, the pledge is about self-preservation. When you get diagnosed with a gluten-related disorder, you have to educate yourself in a whole new way of life, feel empowered to make the right choices for your health, and be willing to advocate for your needs in situations that demand it. (I wrote this as part of a testimonial I provided to the NFCA earlier this year. Read more testimonials here.)
I truly believe that the very most important thing we can do for our health is to learn about it, and after that, to educate others. If we don’t learn all we can about celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and gluten, how can we expect people like chefs—or even doctors—to bother with it? Cheesy as it is, in the case of GRDs, health does start from within.
So what are you waiting for? Take the quiz, then come back and tell me how you did! I’ve modestly held out until now to say this, by the way, but—woohoo!—I got ’em all right.
As for the prize pack, I wish you some belated St. Patrick’s Day good luck. If you, like me, managed to get celiac disease despite having a 132 out of 133 (or about 99.25%) chance of not getting it, then you probably need some.
Have you taken the pledge? Does it resonate with you? Do you feel educated and equipped to educate others about the gluten-free diet?
[Disclosure notice: I was offered two free Rudi’s product coupons valued at $10 in return for posting about the campaign. Although I’m looking forward to the grilled cheeses—or maybe giving the coupons away to one of you—I’d have posted about this anyway in accordance with my strict post-about-stuff-that-is-interesting-to-me-at-the-moment-when-I’m-writing-it policy. I was not otherwise compensated.]
Based on a Sprue Story 
You’ve done a good job of education, Molly. I got 10 out of 10!
Well, you and Mom also put in your time studying outside of class! 🙂
Good job on sharing the quiz. I got nine correct answers. I missed the last question, and was amazed that such a high percentage of people get exposed to gluten. I did not enter the giveaway, though, because though Rudi’s is a great company, and the bread is made in a dedicated facility, it has eggs in it. And the tortillas are vegan, but they are not made in a dedicated facility.
Nice work! It really is a shockingly high percentage (and the percentage of people who continue to be symptomatic after long periods of time gluten-free is accordingly and depressingly high). Sorry to hear you can’t have Rudi’s, but I’m glad you enjoyed the test! Are there GF sandwich breads/tortillas you do buy?
I thought I had replied but I guess not, so sorry for delay. The breads I will buy are Schars (which is much better toasted) and our fave is Cook’s sourdough, which is good toasted AND not toasted as well. The Cook’s also holds together great. It comes frozen. Both of these breads are vegan and made in dedicated facilities. Tortillas though….I haven’t had one since diagnosis, (about the same time frame as you).
Thank you for sharing all of this information, Molly! I am glad to hear that you got all of the questions right. Lots of community members have shared the quiz with their friends and family, so we are pretty excited that people are helping to spread the word about celiac disease and not just it’s treatment.
Have a great day!
Alicia, NFCA
Thanks for stopping by, Alicia! I was happy to share. Great quiz. 🙂
Of course! Thanks again 🙂
Awesome post!
Thanks, Lisa!
Arrgh! I missed the first one, not reading closely enough. So 9 out of 10. Not bad!
Oh well! That’s still an A (minus). 🙂
I took the quiz and passed it on to a couple people. I got 9 / 10. I missed the one about the law making it requirement for the label to state gluten free. I don’t know why but I thought I’d read that when the law was passed.
It’d be cool if it were required (would definitely cut down on the need to call the manufacturer directly) but if you think about all of the products that are naturally gluten-free, like, say, bottled water, that would then have to be labeled gluten-free, it’d get out of hand pretty quickly!
Hey, I got all but the last one right, and I don’t have celiac, I’m just allergic to wheat. Not too bad. I guess 50% instead of 70% of people being exposed to gluten while trying to avoid it. I was trying to be optimistic and positive. That’ll teach me to reach outside my normally cynical worldview, haha.
That’s right! Always look for the cloud surrounding the silver lining. 😛
I missed the one on enzymes because I misread the question — I thought it was asking if some enzymes could help heal after cross-contamination or exposure, not protect against it. Oh well — it was a bit weirdly worded. Otherwise, got them all right.
Yeah, and it’s also a bit confusing because the main drugs being developed to supplement the gluten-free diet are enzymatic in nature (but aren’t over-the-counter or available yet).
I also pondered over #1 for a bit because a blood test is usually the first step in testing for celiac disease and gluten sensitivity; some researchers and clinicians consider high antibodies in the absence of intestinal damage to be a sign of gluten sensitivity. But it’s not a hard-and-fast test and isn’t the only part of the test for celiac. Sooo.
I only got 8/10 I got the amount of gluten in products wrong I thought it was 10 and I also misread the enzyme question.
I love your posts! So informative and lively 🙂
That’s still a solid score! 🙂 It’s 10 in some countries but not the US (though I think at least one of the certification agencies does use 10 ppm as their cutoff).
And thank you!
Hi all, just wanted to pop in to tell you about question #1. We’ve gotten a lot of questions about that one. The answer is false because there’s currently no test or biomarker for gluten sensitivity like there is for celiac disease. A gluten sensitivity diagnosis is one of exclusion, so a doctor or dietitian should help someone who suspects gluten sensitivity to go on an elimination diet to see which foods (if any) are causing symptoms.
Thanks to all of you for taking the quiz! We appreciate the support. Feel free to let me know if you have more questions!
Alicia, NFCA
Thanks for clarifying! Very helpful. 🙂
I got 8/10 and my only education on the subject is this blog, so that’s pretty good I think.